Laura Sophia Szymanski

Laura Sophia Szymanski, age 86, died Monday, March 16, 2015 at the Arden Court Assisted Living Facility in Sterling Heights. She was born May 21, 1928 in Sandusky, Michigan, daughter of the late Walter Myslakowski and the late Felixa (nee: Bonski) Myslakowski.Laura was born and raised on the family farm, and attended Cass City High School where she walked down the aisle to receive her diploma, graduating with the Class of 1946. Just a short 2 years later, she found herself walking down another aisle,...this time at the Church of the Assumption where she was joined in marriage to her dashing groom, Stanley on August 7, 1948. The two would go on to nurture the warmth of home & hearth, raise 6 beautiful children, and grow deeper in love with each passing day. They shared over 63 wonderful years together until Stanley's passing in 2011.In her younger years with Stanley and the kids, they experienced a number of relocations that took them from Detroit to many parts northward. The first would be to Oak Park, next to Ferndale, then to Royal Oak,...and" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">...and last, to their northernmost home in Columbiaville. It was a quaint & inviting setting, one which they were blessed to reside on the lake. In 2002, the moving van made its appearance once again, this time to bring them back down south to familiar community of Warren. But Michigan wasn't the only home that Laura knew. In 1998, she and Stanley entered the throngs of the many Michiganders who head south for the winter when they purchased their "Snowbird Sanctuary" in warm & sunny Florida. She and Stanley were blessed to join with their son and daughter-in-law, Ron & Denise, to buy a small condo in the Village Green at the Jasmine Club in Naples,...it" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">...it became their second home during the winter for more than a decade. As time went on, many friends came and passed from this beautiful community, located just a few blocks from the Naples Pier and the Arts Areas of Naples. For Stan & Laura, it added years to their hard working lives and blessed them with many friends for Bingo, daily conversations, and celebrations in the community center joined by others over 55 years of age. Along with the fun of swimming that the condo living afforded her children and grandchildren,...now" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">...now, she and Stanley could walk to the magnificent Gulf and the world renown Naples Beach. At first the condo was simply a nice place to spend a few months, yet it became their private place to do what they loved. From shopping at the thrift stores, to creating arts & crafts, attending Mass regularly at St. Anne's, or joining with others from the various condos of the Village Green to greet new & current owners,...it inspired their hearts and souls, and did much to bolster their health in the warmer climate. Friends like Leddy and her late husband, Andy, Bill & Margaret, her neighbor, Maria, a famous walker, Jenny (great-aunt to a regular visitor, Seinfeld) were among many others who became part of their extended pods. For 19 years, Laura worked as a cashier with the grocery giant, Farmer Jack's where she extended the utmost in dedicated service until her retirement. But though she was no longer punching a time clock, it didn't mean she was remaining idle. She simply turned her efforts into volunteering for charity at the Resale Shop in downtown North Branch. She was also quite proud and honored to be part of the cleaning crew that kept St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church all spic & span. Laura was also proud & honored to be part of the family at St. Sylvester Catholic Church, where she served as a member of the Women's Altar Society and was an integral contributor to the churches many fund raisers, donating her infamous cakes and pies,...with the latter favorites being her delicious apple and coconut cream pies. Mmmm...got milk? Yet baking wasn't the only "magic" that emanated from Laura's kitchen. Over the years, there were many-a-happy-bellies that knew the culinary delights of her incredible city chicken, meatballs, sauerkraut & kielbasa, and those tasty, little pierogi's. She truly knew her way around the kitchen, and could make a meal fit for a King. Mealtime at Laura's was always a treat,...and if you left her table hungry, you just weren't tryin'.When she wasn't working or tending to the needs of family, Laura enjoyed a number of different hobbies and pastimes,...all of which, perhaps tellingly, involved the work of her hands. Some of these included her love of picking blueberries, tending to her gardening talents, dabbling with more artistic skills in knitting, crocheting and ceramics, creating porcelain dolls, making clothing for the kids, and even upholstering furniture after taking a class to learn the finer points of decorating couches and chairs. Yet of all the hobbies she enjoyed, nothing could match the pleasure she took away from the woodworking projects she shared with Stanley. A loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister, Laura's Portfolio of Life is filled with examples of her energetic spirit and her hard-work ethics. But the best work she ever accomplished was through the love and care she poured into those lives that God entrusted to her care. Family meant the world to Laura, especially when it came to her precious grandchildren. They were truly the light of her life, and cherished beyond measure. And when it came to each of their birthdays, Grandma's card was always on time! From the smiling face at the cash register,...to" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">...to the Bakery Babe at the church fund raisers,...to the affections shared with a loved one, Laura touched a multitude of hearts and souls in her journey this side of Heaven. May her memory be a warm one with each reflection shared, and may she rest in peace,...now, on the other side of Heaven, safe in the arms of God.Laura was the beloved wife of the late Stanley. Dear mother of Christine Ripperda, Ron (Suzie), Dale, Steve (Janice), Alan (Cheryl), and Patrick (Karen) Szymanski. Loving grandmother of 12, and great-grandmother of 9. Sister of Joan (Larry) Weber, Eleanor Wagner, and preceded in death by siblings, Matthew, Wanda, Virginia, Emily, and Walter. She was also survived by many nieces and nephews. Visitation for Laura will be held Wednesday, March 18th from 3:00 - 9:00 pm, with a 7:00 pm Rosary Service, at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road at Common (12 ½ Mile Road) in Warren. She will lie in state on Thursday from 10:00 am until time of the Funeral Mass at 10:30 am at St. Faustina Catholic Church in Warren. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township, Michigan.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 25200 Telegraph Road, Suite 100, Southfield, MI 48033-7443. Please share memories of Laura at her memory book above.