Martha Wysocki

A loving, joyful woman, Martha (Gruszka) Wysocki dedicated her life to serving God and her family. Her good-nature and outgoing personality brightened the lives of all those around her. Both friends and family knew that they could count on Martha for help when they needed it, as well as a smile and a kind word.

In the year 1912, America was experiencing great change as a nation. It was a time of modernization and industry, of immigration, of suffragettes, as well as the classic music of Al Jolson. Into this era of new possibilities and dreams of prosperity, Martha Gruszka was born on January 30, 1912 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The proud parents were Alex and Josephine (Maksymowski) Gruszka, a Polish immigrant couple who had moved to America as children. Mr. Gruszka supported his wife and three children (Alex, Martha, and Joseph) as an interior decorator, while Josephine kept things running smoothly at home. Mrs. Gruszka was also a skilled seamstress, working from home to bring the family some extra income. Martha, an excellent student, attended St. Isidore Catholic School. In fact, she learned so quickly that she was able to graduate a year early from Davis Tech High School. A social girl, Martha loved going to dances with her friends at local halls on the weekends. Her fun-loving gang included Pat Putra Ignasiak, Celia "Chickie" Maksymowski, Martha Maksymowski, Celia Bantik, Clara Kolenda Wysocki, Leona Meyer, Rose Gersh, Virginia Uzarski, Teena Gruszka, and Clara Szjeda.

After high school, Martha found work in the Grand Rapids Creamery, where she ran the business office. A very competent employee, Martha held the position for many years. She also enjoyed crocheting caps and doilies as gifts, a craft which she learned from her mother. After a few years of independence, Martha met the man she would choose to spend the rest of her life with: Joseph Wysocki. Their friendship gradually ripened into a beautiful romance over the next few years. On October 28, 1944, the pair was united in holy matrimony at St. Isidore Catholic Church. Joe was thirty-two years old, Martha thirty-one. Family was very important to Joe and Martha, so it seemed natural to buy a house four doors down from Martha's parents on Lyon Street. It was a real fixer-upper! However, their friends and relatives pitched in to remodel the house into a cozy home for the newlyweds.

Joe and Martha shared many interests and values, the most important of which was their commitment to the Catholic faith. Martha was a member of the Altar Society of St. Isidore Church, cleaning the church and helping out at the school however she could. She even gave the nuns rides in her car when they needed to get around town! Joe was also very active in the church, keeping the parish grounds neat and presentable. The couple often took advantage of the opportunities for relaxation and spiritual renewal offered by the St. Lazarus Retreat House in Spring Lake, Michigan. Joe and Martha also shared a love for good food. They had a wonderful vegetable garden in their backyard, raising delicious tomatoes, beans, peppers, and cabbages. They even went on mushroom hunts from time to time. Martha was an expert baker and cook; her apple pie and sweet breads were famous. Every year, the couple also celebrated their Polish heritage by making their own kapusta from home-grown cabbage. Martha and Joe were a very friendly, outgoing couple. They loved inviting family and friends over for a backyard barbeque. They also spent many weekends playing Uno till late in the night with their close friends, Andy and Clara Wysocki.

The family was blessed with three lovely daughters: Marcia, Mary Felicia, and Marilyn. All three girls followed in Martha's footsteps by attending St. Isidore Catholic Elementary School. The family enjoyed traveling together. They would often visit relatives in Cleveland, for example, always making time to stop at Cedar Point on the way! They also relished their escapes to the wild beauty of Northern Michigan, renting a cabin or staying in hotel rooms. Sometimes they ventured as far north as Canada. Martha and Joe retained close ties with their families. Christmas, Easter, and other holiday celebrations were always hosted at the Wysocki home. The church, as always, was a central part of their lives. Joe and Martha passed on their deep beliefs to their daughters, teaching them traditional Catholic values and attending mass every Sunday. The girls remember them as very supportive parents who made an effort to involve themselves in the girls' school activities and church life.

In 1989, Joe's health began to suffer and on December 22, at the age of seventy-six, he died at home from congestive heart failure, surrounded by his family. After Joe's death, Martha was consoled by the birth of two adorable grandchildren, Joseph and Marie. Martha visited them in Arizona whenever she could, and spoke to them often on the phone. These new additions to the family were a source of great joy for Martha. Even after the death of her husband, Martha continued to lead an active life. She particularly made an effort to rekindle old friendships that had drifted apart. In 1998, Martha decided to leave her Lyon Street home, after fifty-four years of residence, and move in with her daughter Mary, who also lived in Grand Rapids. Five years later, Martha suffered a stroke and her health began to decline. In January of 2003, she moved into St. Ann's Home, where she received wonderful care from their dedicated staff. For the past three weeks, Martha battled pneumonia and a broken hip.

Martha died on Saturday, February 14, 2004, with her daughter Mary by her side. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph, and her brothers, Alex Gruszka and Joseph Gruszka. Martha's family includes her children, Marcia (Tom) Davis of Bay City, Michigan, Mary Felicia Wysocki of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Marilyn (Kevin) Buettner of Fountain Hills, Arizona; her grandchildren, Joseph and Marie Buettner; her sisters-in-law, Tina Gruszka, Clara Wysocki, Virginia Uzarski, Micki Wysocki, Jean Wysocki, and Helen (Robert) Byrne; her brother-in-law, Ben Prawdzik; and many nieces and nephews.

Friends may join the family for visitation from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Sunday, and from 7-9 p.m. on Monday with the rosary prayed at 7:30 p.m. at VanStrein Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield NE. A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Isidore Catholic Church, 628 Diamond Avenue NE, on Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. To read Martha's life story, share a memory, send flowers, or make a memorial contribution to the DeVos Children's Hospital, please visit her personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com.

Martha will be lovingly remembered for her steadfast faith, her joy in life, and her generosity by her many friends and family members.