Anita Alice Dembeck

Anita Alice Dembeck, age 99, a longtime resident of Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Corewell Health Beaumont Grosse Pointe Hospital, surrounded by her loving family.

Anita was born on October 1, 1926, in Detroit, Michigan to Bernard Swantek, a Detroit mounted policeman, and Elsie Swantek, a talented gardener, seamstress, baker, and cook. As a young girl, Anita loved riding and caring for her horses, a pastime that brought her great joy throughout her early years.

She attended St. Thomas the Apostle School in Detroit from first through twelfth grade, where she also formed many lifelong friendships, including with her cherished “Card Club” girlfriends, with whom she remained close and met monthly throughout her life. After graduating from high school, Anita attended business college, where she studied stenography and typing. Because of her exceptional command of English grammar and professionalism, she began her career as an executive secretary. Later, after raising her children, she spent more than 20 years working part-time in the Detective Bureau at the Grosse Pointe Woods City Offices.

In 1950, Anita married Thomas S. Dembeck, and together they shared 56 loving years of marriage before his passing in 2007. The couple met through Lutnia Singing Society, a well-known Polish-American singing and social organization in Detroit during the early and mid-1900’s. Their love story began when Anita caught a stray ping pong ball from a game Thomas was playing and teasingly refused to give it back. Together, they built a warm and loving home centered on faith, family, friendship, and hospitality. Anita was a devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother, and a cherished friend to many.

Central to Anita’s life was her deep faith in God, which she passed on to her children. She practiced her Catholic faith not only through attending mass, praying, volunteering, and serving others, but also through the kindness and compassion she showed to everyone she met. Gifted with a beautiful soprano voice, Anita sang in the choir at St. Joan of Arc Church in St. Clair Shores for more than 65 years.

In addition, Anita was a remarkable cook who lovingly prepared beautiful meals for her family every day and especially delighted in creating elaborate holiday feasts enjoyed by all. Her many specialties included homemade yeast rolls, golabki (Polish cabbage rolls), kielbasa, meatballs, elegant chicken dishes, chocolate candy, and chiffon cakes. She always had a full cookie jar of homemade cookies whenever her grandson visited.

Anita also enjoyed many creative and social pursuits throughout her life. She was a talented artist who took classes in oil painting, china painting, and decoupage, and she loved spending time with her many art books and cookbooks. Furthermore, she was an avid bridge player, and she and Thomas enjoyed countless Saturday evenings playing bridge with friends. In later years, they also enjoyed golfing together, and Anita proudly achieved the family’s only hole-in-one.

Anita was a truly remarkable woman who made people feel instantly at ease. Friends and family alike described her as loving, sweet, kind, and easy to talk to. Above all, her warmth, generosity, and gentle spirit touched everyone who knew her.

She was the beloved mother of Thomas J. (Terri) Dembeck, Deborah Dembeck, Timothy J. Dembeck, Pamela Dembeck Turk (fiancé Christopher Zott), and Peter Dembeck; proud grandmother of Billy Turk; and beloved aunt to many nieces and nephews and great-aunt to many great-nieces and great-nephews.

Anita was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Thomas S. Dembeck, and by her brothers, Hubert (Irene) Swantek and Eugene (Jeannie) Swantek.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12, at A.H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack Avenue at Vernier Road, Grosse Pointe Woods. A Rosary service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday evening. Anita will lie in state on Wednesday at St. Joan of Arc Church, 21620 Greater Mack Avenue, St. Clair Shores, beginning at 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Michael Cemetery in Richmond.

The Funeral Liturgy will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person. The livestream will be available on the St. Joan of Arc–St. Clair Shores Facebook page and on the parish livestream page at livestream.stjoan.church.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Bonaventure Capuchin Monastery, 1740 Mt. Elliott Street, Detroit, MI 48207.

Anita will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her.

“Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.”