Frances A. (Wloczewski) Michalek

Frances A. (Wloczewski) Michalek, 96, of Natrona Heights, passed away Monday, May 15, 2017 at Concordia Lutheran Ministries, Cabot. She was born February 3, 1921 in West Natrona to the late Alexander and Amelia Rzeczkowski Wloczewski. She was the first child in her family to graduate from high school, Har-Brack class of 1938, and while in 8th grade received the American Legion Award. After high school she married Joseph A. Michalek on February 28, 1943. During WWII, while Joseph served in the Army Corps of Engineers, Frances lived with her sister, Alice, in Natrona, and then back home to West Natrona until Joseph returned from the service. By 1950, Joseph and Frances moved into their own home in Natrona Heights and lived there until October 2001, when they moved into an apartment at Concordia in Cabot. Frances was a member of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Natrona Heights. Her favorite pastimes were reading a good book, watching television and listening to good music, especially big band and gentle jazz. Frances enjoyed visiting relatives and traveling around the United States and loved the major holidays of Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas and all the traditional Polish foods and customs for Easter and Christmas. She was a good cook known for her homemade bread and cookies, as well as all the foods prepared for the holidays. But she was most proud of raising three good children and being 'a good mother who tried to be the best in taking care of her home and family'. Frances is survived by her three children, Roseanne Desilets, James Michalek (Swan Colpitts) and Kathleen (David) Obarski; four grandchildren, Curtis (Gail) Desilets, Michelle Desilets, Thomas (Katrina) Obarski and Amy Obarski; and by her two great great grandchildren, Adam and Zachary Obarski. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph A. Michalek on November 1, 2011; brothers, Ted and Leo Wloczewski; and by her sisters, Helen Camille, Anna Glowacki, Nancy Olczak, Agnes Wloczewski, Sophie Klimkowski, Cecilia Wladyka, Alice Rzeczkowski and Virginia Wojdak.
Friends will be received on Saturday from 10 AM until the time of a blessing service at 11:30 AM in the Cicholski-Zidek Funeral Home, Inc., 1522 Carlisle St., Natrona Heights 724-224-8688. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 12 Noon in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church with the Rev. Aaron Kriss as celebrant. Burial will be in Our Lady of Hope Cemetery, Frazer Township. To send an on line condolence please visit www.cicholski-zidekfh.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Frances may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN. 38105.