Cecilia M. Wojtala

(nee Szymanowski); Wyandotte's Centennial Queen; passed away peacefully on February 3, 2014. She was born on March 5, 1927, to the late Stephen and Helen Szymanowski (nee Zambrowski), in Wyandotte, MI (both her parents formerly from Poland). Cecilia's education included: St. Helena's Elementary School and 1944 graduate of Roosevelt High School in Wyandotte, Detroit Cosmetology School, and the Powers Modeling School, which led to many Detroit area modeling jobs. Cecilia also continued to work and manage the family business, the Blossom Bar, 3225 Biddle Avenue, Wyandotte. During W.W.II, Cecilia contributed to the war effort through her work at Turnsteads in Detroit first as a welder then as an aircraft wing inspector. Her contributions are memorialized at the 'Rosie the Riveter' War Memorial honoring American women's labor during W.W.II. On April 18, 1953, Cecilia married the late Raymond John Wojtala, also of Wyandotte, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel church. The following year, in 1954, she was crowned Centennial Queen of Wyandotte. Among the many honors and activities that came from this position, Cecilia met the honorable Governor G. Mennen Williams. Cecilia and Wyandotte's Centennial celebration photos and articles are on file at Wyandotte's Bacon Memorial Library. In 1958, Cecilia and Ray moved to Allen Park, Michigan, where they raised their four children. On October 11, 1966, Cecilia lost the love of her life, Raymond, to a sudden heart attack. Cecilia remained active in the family business as well as in her children's school activities as a member of St. Frances Cabrini's Christian Women League. Her kindness was her strength. Cecilia will be remembered by many through her generous support of many charities. She is survived by her four loving children, Rae Cecile (Douglas) Tally of Chicago, IL, Randall Felix (Deborah) of Allen Park, MI, Rick Stephen of Allen Park, MI, and Regina Cecile (Mark) Anderson of Canton, OH; her loving grandchildren, Raymond John Wojtala of Allen Park, Steven Robert Raymond, Mitchell Alan, Edward Mark, and Jack Raymond Anderson of Canton, OH, Andrea Tally of Tustin, CA, Richard Tally of Atlanta, GA; great grandson, Grant Rees Anderson; her brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Peter (Bernadette) Wojtala, Albert Wojtala, Kim Gill, Edward Mierkowicz; as well as many nieces and nephews. Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her in-laws, Felix and Rose Wojtala; her sister and brother-in-law, Regina (John) Wilkins; her brother, Joseph Szymanowski; her sister, Kathryn Mierkowicz; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, George (Sophie) Wojtala, Oda Annis Wojtala, Rosemary Gill, Barbara (Michael) Maisner.

Cecilia M. Wojtala

March 5, 1927 - February 3, 2014