Ursula Waltraud Andrzejewski

Ursula was born into post-World War II Germany in 1947. It was a time of rebuilding and healing of terrible wounds across Europe. Her family had experienced the war first hand, and then dealt with the aftermath as well, through the trials and tribulations her parents endured as they started a family and tried to reinvigorate their small hometown of Plankstadt. Ursula was the middle child, which led to a personality defined by strong independence and adaptability.
Her childhood was a roller coaster; her family benefitted from her father's job in reconstruction, but also suffered a terrible loss when her father passed away when she was only 16 years old. Her mother was a strong and proud woman who continued to raise the family through this tragedy. Ursula graduated from school and eventually secured a job on the local US military base, where she earned the nickname "Big Red" from many admiring soldiers.
One such soldier was David Andrzejewski, who had been stationed in Germany instead of being sent to Vietnam. It always seemed like their love story was "love at first sight". The easy going "Polack" from Dearborn, Michigan and the fiery German red-head seemed meant to be together. However, it took a journey across the ocean, back to America, to define the next 50+ years of their life.
When Ursula agreed to marry David, she took a huge leap of faith and had to leave everything she'd known behind- family, country, language. They did it together though, and spent 8 years enjoying being a young married couple in love. They built a home together in Southfield, Michigan, hosted many epic pool parties with family and friends, and Ursula tended a huge garden in her backyard oasis.
They finally decided the time was right to pursue starting a family. Tanja was born in 1978 and Kerstin followed 2 years later. Her family felt complete. No one will deny that the good times that followed weren't balanced with difficult ones, but overall, she was able to raise her children to achieve new heights that she never had access to. Both girls went on to attend university and establish careers their mom was always so proud of- teacher and doctor.
She was sometimes a stern/strict parent, but this was because she had to be since she was alone a lot due to David working the afternoon shift most of their working lives. But she always knew how to play and have fun. The outdoors was where she let her kids learn a lot of life lessons, and despite being tight on money a lot of the time, she was never tight with her time. Trips to Hines Park to feed the ducks and go sledding, wandering through the woods surrounding their home, camping trips up north, so many excursions to the local library, swimming pools, and playgrounds in Southfield.
When they were forced to move due to urbanization of their old neighborhood, they chose to transplant their little ranch home from Southfield to Farmington Hills- the house traveled in 2 parts all the way down 10 Mile Road! It was a huge task to start over again in this fashion, but they were so proud to find a place that was new and safe, and with acreage to give their children space and room to grow. She continued to support her children by providing nutritious home cooked meals, taking them to basketball and marching band practices, and providing as many experiences as they could afford to achieve a well-balanced childhood.
After years of doing odd jobs, she finally settled on her most appropriate life's calling, becoming a paraprofessional with Farmington Public Schools. She worked to assist the teachers of pre-school level special education children. She got to "play" for a living and she was so good at it! Her favorite child over the years was "Daniel", who's mother always wanted her to come over to their house to play with him, even after he had graduated to kindergarten. She had an album with all their collected pictures, poems, and thank-you letters and it is thick and full of love for her. It makes her family so proud to know how many lives she was able to influence for the better.
After retirement, she got to experience wonderful family trips to Disney World, Hawaii, and Alaska that she was able to enjoy with her entire family; there were also more personal trips with David to the Grand Canyon and Biltmore in North Carolina- memories she still took pleasure reminiscing about years later. Her last birthday party in Frankenmuth, Michigan in 2023 was so memorable.
Ursula's 3 grandchildren meant the world to her. She and David were able to help care-give for the twins, Freya and Saffron during their younger years, and they had a ton of great times together, with pics to prove it! Piper was born during the month she was diagnosed with cancer, but that little baby provided the right kind of distraction and happiness when it was needed the most. Becoming a grandmother was the most cherished thing in the world to her.
Losing David last year was so hard for her, more than we think she could have anticipated. She missed him so much; hopefully the rest of the family was able to balance that loneliness, at least a little. She fought a long battle with cancer, but it was the recent stroke that robbed her of her treasured independence for a short time near the end. However, she still managed to be strong and make her own decisions. That she was able to pass peacefully at home surrounded only by her daughters was beautiful and serene, and it was likely due to her remaining sheer sense of will power and self-determination that it came to pass. We lovingly acknowledge and accept that she has rightfully earned her place of rest beside the man she loved.
A private interment will take place at Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly, Michigan at a later date. Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Cancer Society.