Anna Masakowski

Anna Masakowski, age 97, peacefully passed away on February 25, 2023.
Anna was the beloved Wife of the late Henry for 67 years. She was born in Kowal, Poland on November 1, 1925 and was the youngest of eight children. By the time Anna was born, her parents and their family had already made many trips back and forth from Poland to America to work, save money and establish a future home. Her brothers were born in the U.S. but her three older sisters were born in Poland. Anna, her sister Jessie, and their mother sailed to America in 1937 where Anna celebrated her 12th birthday on the MS Pilsudski, a luxurious ocean liner that was the pride of the Polish fleet. Many passengers became seasick, but not young Anna, who attributed her sea-worthiness to eating oranges and herrings.
Anna developed excellent skills of baking and cooking not only from her mother, but from her oldest sister Pearl, who had already married in America. Pearl and her husband, Frank, took young Anna under their wing like a daughter and taught her the value of hard work and charity to the community, all while she learned the English language and adapted to life in America. Anna met the love of her life, Henry, a carpenter who became a Navy pilot, and she decided to join the efforts of her new democratic life and became a "Rosie the Riveter". She was known to have said, "Well, if my boyfriend will fly those war planes, I have to make them right!" Indeed she did, and Anna was very good at her job, wearing the typical snood, sitting on a 4-wheeled stool rolling under each airplane wing hanging overhead and perfectly riveted away.
She loved to dance the jitterbug and polka and loved all of the big bands of the 1940's era. Anna was proud of her Polish heritage, but never so proud as the day she became an American Citizen. Anna and Hank, as she called him married on September 28, 1946 at Assumption BVM Church in Detroit and they raised a large family of one daughter and seven sons, but always had room for more. Many nieces, nephews, and neighbors can attest that Anna was like a foster mother offering them a place to stay, food on the table, and an ear to listen to their concerns because she had a heart big enough for loving them all no matter when they needed her.
Anna was an excellent homemaker and a cook "extraordinaire", but sometimes a part time job helped with family expenses and she enjoyed a few days a week at different part time jobs throughout the years and retired from ARA food services at Chrysler, but her priority was always her family, her prayer life and charity towards others. She belonged to the Daughters of Isabella, and the Polish Women's Alliance in earlier years of being a parishioner at St. Francis D'Assisi in Detroit, and always made sure the nuns at the church school where her children attended, were well taken care of for the holidays. She and Henry were founding members of St. Ephrem Parish after moving to Sterling Township in the early 1960's and in recent years, Anna joined St. Blase Parish. She was thrilled when our first Polish Pope, John Paul II became a Saint and proudly displayed his photo on her dining room wall for all to see, and like him, she always had a strong devotion to Mary, the Blessed Mother of Jesus, and never failed to share her gift of faith with family.
Anna enjoyed leisure times spent with her sisters and brothers and all their families at her sister's lake cottage, as well as camping at Camp Dearborn with her husband's side of the family. Henry kept his pilot's license through the years and enjoyed taking Anna and other family members for many airplane rides, even landing his seaplane in front of the family cottage. Anna will be missed by many nieces, nephews, her godchildren, and all who knew her for her love and generosity here in the U.S. and by relatives still living in Poland. When life threw some uncertainties Anna's way, she could be heard saying, "It is what it is" showing us to just have acceptance and love in our hearts and to pray, and pray that all will be well.
Loving mother of Elaine (Richard) Szlaga, the late Michael (Nancy), Paul (Cynthia), Henry (the late Kristine), Peter (Linda), Joseph (Lori), Jerome and Stanley Masakowski.
Dear Grandmother of 20 - (Girls: 7 Boys: 13)
Shelly (David) Smith, Sheree (John) Tharrett, Felicia Gunthner, Carrie (James) Belmonte, Marissa (Thomas) Marshall, Marie, Andrew (Amy), Henry Jr., Adam (Megan), Eric, Christopher, Ryan (Tasha), Alexander (Shayla), Shawn, Evan, Ethan, & Lucas Masakowski. Lance & Kenneth Allen. Predeceased by Alyssa Byers.
GREAT GRANDCHILDREN: 8 soon to be 9 - William & Jenna Tharrett, Madelyn & Michael Belmonte, Raymond & Stanley Masakowski, Ryleigh Stephens, Aiden Pinch, & our new baby girl Masakowski expected in March.
Predeceased by: Parents, Stanley & Stella Kujawski; sisters, Pearl (Frank) Rydelek, Mary (Joseph) Zasada in Poland and Jessie (Eugene) Milewski; brothers, Chester, Edward (Jean and Helen), Harry and Bill (Stephany and Irene) Kujawski
Sister-in-law of Helen (late Eugene) Sekutowski; Maxine (late Martin) Mosakowski; predeceased by: John, Leonard, Edward, Steve (Virginia) Mosakowski, Eleanor (Walter) Sulak and Genevieve (Harry) Zywiol.
Visitation Friday, March 3, 2023 2:30-8pm at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons, Inc., 36900 Schoenherr Road at Metro Parkway (16 Mile). Instate Saturday, March 4, 2023 9am until 9:30am time of Mass at St. Blase Parish, 12151 15 Mile Rd. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Anna's honor may be made to The Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph or to a charity of donor's wishes. Share memories with the family at their online guestbook at WujekCalcaterra.com