Agnes Glownia

Agnes Glownia devoted her life to her family, and she was always the happiest when she was in their warm company. She was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandma, and each day she tried to bring joy into the hearts of the many people she loved.

The year 1915 marked a time of uncertainty throughout America. After the sinking of a passenger ship by a German U-boat, President Woodrow Wilson led his country into the Great War amid the cry, "Remember the Lusitania!" In Ashland, Wisconsin, Joseph Trocki and his wife Maryanna Hornszewski looked beyond the war and focused on a different future, the future of their family. They were expecting their second child, and on January 24, 1915 they were blessed with the healthy birth of their daughter Agnes.

The younger of two children, Agnes grew up in Ashland with the company of her sister Helen. Their parents were both Polish immigrants, and they instilled in Agnes and Helen traditional values and a strong sense of heritage. Their father provided for the family through his lifelong job with the railroad, and their mother tended to the house and sewed, knitted, and crocheted. When Agnes was still quite young, her father was reassigned to a position in Michigan. The family settled in Grand Rapids where they soon became members of Sacred Heart of Church on the West Side. Agnes attended Catholic Central High School where she graduated with the class of 1932.

In Grand Rapids Agnes met a handsome young man named Thomas Glownia. Like Agnes, he was of Polish descent and he lived on the West Side. They dated for a couple of years and fell in love. On April 27, 1937 they were married at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. The happy newlyweds settled into a home on Park Street, near the church, and soon began a family of their own.

Agnes and Thomas were blessed with three wonderful children. Their eldest Pam was born on April 25, 1942, followed by Robert on January 1, 1945 and Gary on June 15, 1947. The children all attended Sacred Heart Elementary and West Catholic High School. Agnes was a devoted mother who provided her children with an environment of warmth and love. Agnes was an excellent cook, and her soups were especially popular. Her children and husband often returned home to the scent of a wonderful dinner. She raised her own garden, and each fall she was always busy canning fruits and vegetables. The family spent many memorable vacations at Hess Lake in Newaygo, Michigan.

In her later years, Agnes was thrilled to see her family grow with the blessing of grandchildren and great-grandkids. She and Thomas dearly loved Michael Glownia, Emily Glownia, Robyn Glownia, and Amanda Tamburello. Agnes also cherished all the time that she spent with the youngest members of her family, her great-grandkids Erica Glownia and Kelvin Glownia.

On March 24, 1979 Agnes' life changed suddenly with the passing of her husband. She sold the house on Park Street and later moved to the Detroit area where her children had settled. She joined a new congregation and remained as faithful as ever to her church, attending Mass on every Sunday and Holy Day. Like her mother, Agnes loved to crochet and sew. She was very talented, and she used this skill to create many wonderful gifts for her family. She collected angels of all types and displayed them throughout her house. She bought many on her own, and she also received a good number as gifts from friends and family.

Agnes regarded her family as her greatest accomplishment. In the company of her husband, children, and grandkids, a warm smile always brimmed over her lips. She touched many hearts during her lifetime, and she will be greatly missed and frequently remembered by all those who loved her.

Agnes died on Tuesday, July 11, 2006. She was preceded in death by her husband and sister Helen Palasek in 1998 and her niece Nancy Ressel in 1991. She is survived by her children Pam and John Gernancy of West Bloomfield Hills, Robert and Michaeline Glownia of Clarkston, Gary and Gayle Glownia of Ionia; grandchildren Michael, Emily, Robyn Glownia and Amanda Tamburello; great grandchildren Ericka and Kelvin Glownia; her nieces Marilyn (Don) Antonini of Grand Rapids and several great nieces and nephews. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday at 10AM at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, corner of Garfield and Park SW. Interment in Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends may meet the family on Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9PM at Heritage Lifestory Funeral Homes- Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. N.W. where the Rosary will be recited Thursday evening at 7P.M. Please visit Agnes' personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a favorite memory, sign the guestbook, or post a memorial contribution.