Lucille A. Schroeder

Lucille Schroeder was a hard-working woman. She grew up during difficult times and that created in her a determination to make a better life for herself. She carefully balanced her own personal perfection with her loyalty to her family and her generosity to others in need.

Lucille was the youngest child born to Anthony Petrovich and Mary Shoblock. Her parents were immigrants to the United States and they did much to keep their Polish and Russian cultures and customs alive. Lucille was born in W. Hazelton PA on June 22, 1937. America was still suffering from the effects of the 1929 Stock Market Crash which sent the country, and the world spiraling down into the Great Depression. Lucille and her five siblings, Edward (Duke), John, Walter, Loraine and Ted, made the best of hard times by swimming in the old swimming holes and eating the occassional watercress. Their father worked the mines while their mother labored as a farm hand and housewife. It was a lean life on the farm for the Petrovich family. Special memories were created when the family would forget about work and attend big Polish weddings which would last for days.

Lucille attended W. Hazelton High School, but she quit before graduation. At eighteen years old, she tried to escape the hard life of the coal mining towns and she followed her older brother, Duke to Grand Rapids, MI. They thought Grand Rapids was the Land of Opportunity. Lucille moved in with oldest brother Duke and his wife to help them with their children. Lucille found a job at Kuks Café and later married the proprietor, Martin Kuks, a Polish immigrant from Warsaw. Their marriage was short lived and lasted from 1957 to 1960. Lucille met and married Bruce Gelderblom. Bruce had a daughter named Sharon and that gave Lucille's daughter, Kim the opportunity to have a stepsister. Sadly, their marriage ended in 1968.

Third times the charm, because Lucille eventually found the love of her life, Ralph Schroeder. She and Ralph shared many of the same passions and enjoyed every moment they spent together. The happy couple married in Grand Rapids in a civil ceremony. Ralph encouraged Lucille to finish her education and in 1974 she received her G.E.D. from Godwin High School. In 1975, they moved to a hobby farm in Bloomingdale, MI where they were able to raise horses. They cared for Taffy, a barrel racer, Gunsmoke, a trail horse, and Joy a Palomino and Taffy's colt, Diamond. In 1987, they sold the farm and horses and moved to Hernando, FL on Lake Tsalapopka.. They enjoyed life in sunny Florida until Ralph became sick. Lucille was by his side, nursing him through his illness until his death in 1989. By 1990, she moved back to Michigan and lived with Kim until she could get back on her feet. Losing Ralph was very painful She missed all the snow skiing, motorcycle traveling and all the other adventurous experiences they shared.

Over the years, Lucille held positions of employment at many places. She worked at restaurants and factories before settling into a position with General Motors. Later, she helped Ralph with his hardware manufacturing business. The headquarters was located just outside Chicago, IL. After Ralph passed away, Lucille worked from 1990 to 2000 in the Grand Rapids Public School system, first as a secretary and then in purchasing. When she wasn't working, she preferred to perfect her beautiful garden or work on her crafts. Lucille was very talented and she made fabulous quilts and other decorative items that were in high demand at the local craft shows.

Kim remembered her mom as a wonder Polish cook. She would cook for an army no matter how many people were eating. She was a very gracious hostess and lovely entertainer. Lucille was also a ferocious parent who would not tolerate any "baloney". She laid down the law and meant it! She was intolerant of whining and had a sharp tongue to match her sharp wit. Lucille never coddled anyone and she believed in holding people accountable for their own decisions. For Lucille, if you were on time, that meant you were late. Independence was strongly encouraged and she was insistent that Kim would attend college. Kim exceeded her mother's expectations by not only attending college, but she also went on to earn her master's degree in management at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids.

It was easy to see Lucille's soft side. She was a generous woman and many times she would take all her family members out to the movies together for some fun and fellowship. She treated the kids the same, but was especially protective of Kim and her niece, Sheila. Ralph gave her a toy poodle, named Cocoa that she loved and was even tolerant of the frustrating "marking of his territory" that Cocoa did in the house regularly. She later loved a Doberman Pincer named Lancer and enjoyed walking Kim's dog, Jamie.

Kim and her mother created lasting memories on the many trips they took together. She and Lucille traveled to Paris, London, Reno NV, Atlantic City NJ, Las Vegas NV, Hawaii, Carmel, Monterey, San Simeon, Big Sur and the California Coastal Highway. She even travelled to Brazil with her friend Carol. They also spent many wonderful times together at Kim's home on Lake Erie. Lucille and Ralph also spent good times with their close friends, Carol and Joe Kasiewicz and Lucille's friend Linda Thomas. She was lucky to have good friends and close family. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all those special people in her life.

Mrs. Lucille A. Schroeder, age 68, of Grand Rapids, passed away Friday, April 7, 2006. She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph Schroeder in 1989 and by her brother John Petrovich and sister Loraine Ivory. She is survived by her daughter Kim Kuks of Huron, OH., former step-daughter, Sharon Hogue of Pueblo, CO., brothers Edward " Duke" Petrovich of Grand Rapids, Ted Petrovich of Drums., PA., Walter Petrovich of Sugarloaf, PA., numerous nieces and nephews and many friends, including special friends Carol and Joe Kasiewicz of Bloomingdale, MI., and Linda Thomas of Allendale. Friends may meet the family at the Heritage Lifestory Funeral Homes - Van Strien- Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield N.E. on Tuesday from 7:00p.m.- 9:00p.m. where a Vigil Service will be held at 6:30p.m. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Wednesday at 10:30a.m. at St. Judes Catholic Church 1120 Four Mile NE. Memorial contributions to your local Humane Society would be appreciated. You may read Lucille's lifestory, leave a memory or sign the guestbook by visiting www.lifestorynet.com.