Edith Mary Chmielewicz

In the 1960s, the Lansing, Michigan, TV personality Martha Dixon had a popular morning cooking show called “Copper Kettle” on channel 6 CBS WJIM (now WLNS). Among the program’s loyal viewers was Edith Mary Chmielewicz, a Haslett housewife. Edith often imitated Dixon, to the delight of her youngest daughter.

“For all you young housewives out there…,” Edith would mimic Dixon’s trademark home economics tips. Edith, who passed away August 5 at age 95, also happened to be an excellent cook and homemaker in her own right. Her family especially enjoyed her meatballs, stuffed shells, and tomato sauce, which featured slow-cooked pork to make an outstanding ragout. She also had a special method for cooking a tender, flavorful Thanksgiving turkey—by inserting an orange in the cavity before roasting.

Born to Italian immigrants Antonio and Carmela [Calomino] Alagna on May 23, 1931, in Lansing, Edith was raised in an Italian home. Although both her parents were excellent cooks, she said she learned most of her cooking skills from her mother-in-law, Lucille Chmielewicz, another excellent cook.

Edith married Richard Raymond Chmielewicz on September 3, 1956. Richard, who predeceased her in 2012, worked in the purchasing department at Fisher Body. Edith also worked at Fisher, in the payroll department in the 1950s. Richard had recently started in a new position and Edith politely asked him, “How do you like your new job?” Richard, a dapper dresser with an outgoing personality, assumed his attractive coworker was interested in him. He sent her a note that read, “Would you like to go out with me sometime?” Edith panicked. She was just being polite so she tried to dissuade him from going out on a date. Richard was tenacious and began calling her home. Her mother didn’t speak much English, so Edith’s father repeatedly told Richard that she wasn’t home and was out bowling. He assumed her absence wasn’t related to his calls and thought she must be quite a proficient bowler.

While Edith was not, in fact, an expert bowler, she was a highly knowledgeable sports fan, who regularly attended Haslett High School sports events. She was also loyal to the Michigan State University Spartans, where Richard was an alumnus. Edith was also well-known along her Haslett paper route. And the note that Richard sent her asking her out on a date in 1955. . . Edith held onto it long afterwards as a cherished keepsake.

Edith is predeceased by her husband, her parents, her beloved sisters Antonette (Donna) Perrelli and Virginia Sinicropi Greenwood, her son-in-law John Malark, DVM, and her niece Rosemary Sinicropi Terres.

She is survived by sons Steve (of Haslett) and John (of Lansing), daughters Carmela Malark, DVM (of Mt. Pleasant, SC) and Mary (Bill Motchan) (of Virginia Beach, VA), grandson ConnorMalark, MD (of Charleston, SC), granddaughter Cara Ayers, RN (Marcus) (of Charlotte, NC), as well as eight nephews and a niece.

The family would like to thank the staff at Safe Haven Assisted Living in Okemos and Heart to Heart Hospice for the compassionate and professional care Edith received over the past ten months. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Safe Haven Assisted Living of Okemos, 981 Jolly Road, Okemos, MI 48864; or to Heart to Heart Hospice, 2260 E. Saginaw, Ste. A, East Lansing, MI 48823.

Per Edith’s wishes, there will be no funeral service. Her family will gather in October in Lansing to celebrate her life and memory.