Jean Wysocki

A treasured friend and faithful servant, Jean Cichon lived her life as a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother. She wanted nothing more than the very best for the family she loved. Social by nature, Jean had a love of all people. Her warm smile, selfless heart, and her natural way of showing compassion for others were her greatest gifts. Generous and loving, Jean will be dearly missed by her many special friends and loved ones.

The year 1932 held many special marks in history. It was the year of the tragic kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh’s infant son, a winter so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid, and the opening of Radio City Music Hall in New York City. With the promise of a new election year, Polish immigrants, Stanley and Olga (Romanowicz) Cichon were eager to welcome into their hearts and home their newborn baby girl, Jean Estelle, on November 15, 1932 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her birth brought light into an era of hard times.

Growing up on the west side of the city at 35 Indiana Street NW, she and her siblings, Joseph and Edward had many special childhood memories. As a family, they lived a simple life. During much of their growing years, they were without a family car and took the public bus around town as well as out to Reed’s Lake and Ramona Park. They were avid members of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church where the kids attended elementary school. Jean cherished growing up with several Polish traditions including food, dances, and large gatherings. Her father had a side job as a bartender at the local Polish Falcons Hall on Fulton and she fondly remembers spending many Saturday nights there dancing the night away! She attended Catholic Central then transferred to St. Adalberts as a sophomore. During her senior year back at Catholic Central, she met Walter Wysocki. Hitting it off right from the start, Jean and Walt started dating from that night on.

A proud graduate of the Class of 1950, Jean set off for the world of work. She accepted a position at Bodart Furniture as a secretary. Walt left to serve during the Korean war. Luckily, he remained stateside and they were able to keep their new found romance through writing letters to one another. When Walt returned home after service, he anxiously proposed! The happy couple were married on September 26, 1953 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church. Both being from Polish backgrounds made it easy for Jean to fit right into his large family and they threw their reception at the Polish Falcons Hall. For their honeymoon they traveled around Lake Superior and into Canada, stopping in beautiful Niagara Falls as well. Her father’s health was declining so they moved in with her parents so she could help her mother care for him. Jean was grateful to be there for support before her father died in 1954.

Jean and Walt built their family home on 2135 Finsbury Lane NW. Together they raised four wonderful children; Cathy, Jerry, Ken, and Nancy. They were excited to share in their strong beliefs and become members at Holy Spirit Parish where the kids would go to school and then later to West Catholic High School. The family moved for a short time to Portage when Walt’s job at General Motors took him there. They were thankful for the experience, yet always wanted to be closer to their families and returned to their next home they built together at 262 Carpenter NW in Grand Rapids. As a family, they enjoyed many years of traveling and camping together. They took advantage of any time they had to take their pop-up camper as far as California one year to visit one of Walt’s brothers. They also toured many popular destinations throughout the US and Canada. All in all, they savored many special moments together and always looked forward to sharing special trips and holidays with their family.

Jean lived a full life with many special hobbies. She very much enjoyed spending time in her garden and always had success growing vegetables and flowers. She spent many of her summer days freezing and canning so she could enjoy her hard work during the winter months. Jean loved to cook and was always happy to make Kapusta and pig hocks. She also made delicious chicken soup, and roasts with vegetables. She also loved to bake and loved to make many traditional Polish specialties. When it came to music she enjoyed listening to Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, and Lawrence Welk. Rich in her daily routine, Jean also liked to watch the old classic movies on AMC and always watched the news. She had a vast collection of village figurines of houses and stores from the Charles Wysocki porcelain collection as well as Precious Moments figurines. Above all else, Jean enjoyed being around her children and grandchildren. Her favorite moments were enjoying time at the cottage during Wysocki weekend. Whenever the family was together, her heart was happy!

Sadly around 1990, she and Walt’s life took a drastic turn as the result of a serious auto accident. Walt never fully recovered and suffered from paralysis for the remainder of his life. He was an inspiration to his family as he fought to regain some independence over the years. Sadly, he passed in 2002 leaving Jean to rely on her family and friends to see her through. She enjoyed the companionship from her sweet dog, Odie, who accompanied her on nightly walks through the neighborhood. She also remained devoted to her Catholic faith and prayed her Rosary often. About three years ago, Jean moved to Edison Christian Home where she made friends everywhere she went. Loved by many, she will surely be missed for her spunk and wonderful sense of humor. May her close friends and loved ones cherish the special moments they shared together and may her memories be eternal.

Jean E. Wysocki (Cichon), age 88 of Grand Rapids, Michigan, passed away May 21, 2021. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter, in 2002; her brothers, Joseph and Edward Cichon; son-in-law Mike Kirby and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Jean is survived by her children Cathy Kirby; Jerry & Connie Wysocki, Kenneth Wysocki, Nancy & Jeff Wonser; 11 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Friends and family are invited to visit together on Tuesday, May 25 from 6-8 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home–2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW where a Scripture service will start at 8 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 11 AM at Holy Spirit Parish, 2230 Lake Michigan Drive NW where friends may also visit with her family beginning at 10 AM. Interment in Holy Cross Cemetery. For those who wish, memorial contributions to either Holy Spirit School Educational Foundation or Edison Christian Foundation are appreciated. To sign her guestbook, and to share a memory or photo, visit www.heritagelifestory.com