Carolyn Loretta McGuire

My mom, Carol, was the first child of Tadeusz “Ted” and Lucy “Lottie” Konieczny, born on September 25th in 1942 in Hamtramck, Michigan. Following her birth, Ted and Lottie gave her three younger sisters – Loretta, Beverly and Pamela.

Grandma Lottie was a homemaker and grandpa Ted was a carpenter, and the family lived in Hamtramck – a few miles outside of Detroit – until grandpa finished building their beautiful 2-story brick home in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

Grandma Lottie used to say my mom was always outgoing and creative. She not only took tennis lessons as a child but loved to write. Out of 400 entries, mom won the “My Pops is Tops” essay contest in 1956! She also enjoyed singing and was in a couple different choirs in high school. But mostly mom loved to perform. She and her best friend Veronica performed an act in the Utica High School talent show with mom playing a crazy character named Harry – to her peers’ delight! She was also in a musical called Annie Get Your Gun.

Mom was 18 years old and working as a telephone operator when she met my 22-year-old dad, Al, at the local A&W Root Beer restaurant. My dad had enlisted in the Air Force out of North Dakota at the age of 17 and got assigned to Selfridge Air Force Base in Michigan. Mom was with her friend Veronica, and dad was with one of his airmen buddies the day they met. Mom says it was love at first sight. After dating a short while, my dad (who was always a little shy) took her out for a drive with the intention of proposing marriage, but at the last minute he choked. So mom proposed to him instead – and he said yes! 💍

Dad had to convert from his Lutheran upbringing to mom’s Catholicism, at the order of grandpa Ted. Which dad happily did. Mom was 19 when she and dad got married at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Utica, MI. The next several years saw my parents and their growing family assigned to different Air Force Bases across the country. My name is Kelly, and I’m their firstborn child and only daughter, born in Wichita Falls, Texas. A year later Kent was born in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. And 18 months after that, Kirk was born at Otis AFB in Massachusetts. My parents had intended to have 6 children – but after my 2 rambunctious brothers arrived, they called it quits. Much to my chagrin because I really wanted a sister.

brothers arrived, they called it quits. Much to my chagrin because I really wanted a sister.

Our family of 5 was transferred to Lockbourne AFB in Ohio before being sent overseas to Rhein Main AFB, Germany in 1968. Germany is where some of our happiest memories come from. Then in 1973 dad and our family got stationed at Edwards AFB in the Mojave Desert. A year later, mom returned to work for the first time since she got married.

Mom began her Civil Service career as a clerk typist in the Civilian Personnel Office there at EAFB. She was later selected to be a Supervisor in Civil Engineering where she supervised 7 employees providing office support to 4 branches of the Air Force.

In 1984 she began a 20-year career in the Property Management Branch of the Directorate of Contracting. During this time, she was a Property Administrator for most of the major weapon systems and high-level service contracts at Edwards AFB. She served as a mentor and guide to new employees in the Property Management field and was instrumental in the development of contractors’ property management plans. She won awards for the excellent work she did in her department.

Mom always fantasized about finding an agent after retiring and auditioning for TV commercials. But something much more wonderful happened instead – she became a grandma! Kirk and his wife, Linda, gave mom her first biological grandbaby – little Kathryn Lottie in 1989. Two years later followed little Jake Tadeusz. Along with Linda’s sweet daughter, Jaclyn Marie, from her first marriage – mom was over the moon! No words could express how much she adored those 3 grandchildren. Meanwhile, dad retired a little early, bought a motorhome and was itching to hit the road, which is what they ended up doing as often as they could – frequently with Kirk and his kiddos in tow.

Mom and dad had so much fun together. Speaking of which, my brothers and I agree that we couldn’t have had better role models for marriage than our parents. As couples always do, my parents would argue at times – but they never cursed or attacked each other’s character. We never heard them use the word “hate.” They never called each other a derogatory name. They never threatened divorce. Never. Not once. Over time, they worked things out. They were best friends. I’ve got letters that attest to mom’s heart never fully healing after she lost my dad to lung cancer in April of 2015. She missed him so much these past 10 years.

My parents were Catholics and our family attended church together every Sunday. We kids had our First Holy Communions and Confirmations and attended Catechism faithfully. After they retired, my folks started reading the Bible and over time came to know Jesus in a deeper and more personal way, placing their trust in His Lordship of their lives in a way they hadn’t done before. Knowing this is such comfort to our family. We know exactly where mom, dad and our youngest brother Kirk are. ❤️❤️❤️

This is a very brief overview of who my mom, Carol is. I didn’t even touch on all the clubs and groups she belonged to over the years. Or how we considered her “the patron saint of lost animals” (she kept a dog bowl, food and water in her trunk in case she ran across any strays, and then she’d always find their parents). Or how she helped the homeless and supported various organizations and Ministries (like Maryknoll, Wounded Warriors, Dog Tags for Kids, Make-A-Wish, etc). Or how she kept a list of jokes in her purse to pull out at a moment’s notice to share with friends and family. Or how she loved playing Dominos. Or how she got crying babies in stores to stop crying by distracting them. Or how she wouldn’t

leave the house without perfectly coiffed hair, full makeup and a meticulously color-coordinated wardrobe – including her jewelry. Or – most importantly – how much she loved her Great-grandbabies: Gemma, Jade, Evelyn, Eliana and little Tadeusz.

Of course there is no such thing as a perfect parent, but we were blessed with a fun, sweet, generous, selfless, forgiving, kind and loving mom. She was precious to us, and we’ll miss her dearly.