Mary was born in Detroit on May 10, 1940 to Jerome and Clara Duskey. As a young girl with kidney problems, she was blessed by Blessed Solanus Casey, helping her to have a long and productive life.
Mary was married to Richard Bratkowski on June 12, 1961. She was a very dedicated and loving mother to 2 children, and raised them while she went to nursing school. She graduated as an RN in 1975 and went to work as an obstetrics head nurse at Holy Cross Hospital, a career she was very proud of. After 10 years at Holy Cross, she left to become an administrator at Medical Network One. In the 1980s she also began a life of extensive volunteer service, starting with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Meadowbrook Hall, and continuing to heavily focus on the Polish American community. She gradually retired in the 2000s and settled into a quiet life as a voracious reader and a devoted babcia.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Christine Skowronski. She leaves behind her husband Richard; daughter Christine (Dennis) Bingham and son David (Darla) Bratkowski; grandsons Jerome Bingham, Nathan Bratkowski and Matthew Bratkowski; brothers Tim (Joanne) Duskey and Paul (Jacqueline) Duskey; dear friends Ilene Latasiewicz, Ewa Matuszewski, and Margaret Kuchinski, and many nieces and a nephew.
A Funeral mass will be held on Saturday, May 16 at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 1400 Inglewood Drive, Rochester, Michigan. Viewing will be at 9:30 am, followed by Mass at 10:00. Interment at Resurrection Cemetery followed by a luncheon.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, PO Box 772091, Detroit MI 48277-2091
