Josephine V. Spisz

Josephine “josie” Spisz, age 100, died peacefully in her sleep on October 4th in Michigan City, IN. She was born in Wyandotte, MI on November 13, 1917. Her parents, born in Poland, were Walter and Julia Cichowski. She had three siblings: Julia Lipkowski, Joseph Cichowski, and John Grzegorczyk- all deceased. She attended Mt. Carmel High School in Wyandotte where she had many friends. She married Walter Spisz on February 26, 1938. They enjoyed 52 years of marriage before his death in 1990. Josephine was a hard worker all of her life. Her first job was cleaning houses until she married Walter. They had two daughters, the youngest, Joan, died at eighteen months of age. During WWII, Josephine was a real life “Rosie the Riveter” working at the shipyards, keeping the rust off of the ships, maintaining their seaworthiness. She also worked in a toy factory, a tool crib, as a cook, and selling Avon cosmetics. She was faithful to her church, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, where she served on the Altar Sodality, Rosary Sodality, Orchard Lake Auxiliary, PLAV Post #7, and the Felician Sisters Auxiliary as their financial secretary. Josephine was devoted to her family and derived great joy in spending time with everyone. Those who were out of town regularly received long letters or greeting cards, often stuffed with a $2 bill. She saved every postcard and greeting card she received in return and hung each one in a place of honor on the knotty pine paneling of her basement kitchen until almost every wall was covered, saying space only for a portrait of her parents and The Last Supper. The basement kitchen was where the real cooking and entertaining took place; the modern upstairs kitchen was more for show. Josephine was a wonderful hostess and loved to cook and entertain her family and friends often sharing the bounty from her carefully maintained garden and apple tree. Josephine always wore dresses and heels with bright lipstick. She tried her a pair of trousers in the late 1970s and she never wore blue jeans. She generally resisted modernization and didn’t get her first automatic washer until the early 1980s. Prior to that time, her household chores dictated her days. Using her wringer washer and clothesline, she washed on Monday. She ironed on Tuesdays, sewed on Wednesdays, cleaned on Thursdays, shopped on Fridays, and baked on Saturdays. Sunday was her day of rest when she faithfully attended church and spent time afterwards with family and friends. In the cold weather, Josephine began every morning shoveling coal into her furnace until her family got central heating in the mid 1970s. To the delight of her family and friends, Josephine could never pronounce the word hippopotamus. She settled on “hip, hip, a Thomas” which was always greeted with gales of laughter. She was unable to tolerate more than a sip of alcohol without becoming exuberantly happy and hiccupping. She loved to dance to Polish music, often dancing as she cooked. She was well known for her Polish specialty- golombkis (stuffed cabbage rolls) and homemade apple pie. She also enjoyed listening to and singing church hymns. Her favorite musical artists were Lil’ Wally, Dean Martin, and Doris Day. Josephine’s hobbies included tending her flowers, embroidering, crocheting, playing cards and Scrabble, doing jigsaw puzzles and watching Jeopardy. She is survived by her devoted daughter, Alice Pugh, and four grandsons: Christopher, Michael and Lee Purcell and one granddaughter: Julia Gregory, and eight great grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 7, from 5-8PM at Czopek Funeral Home in Wyandotte, MI. On Monday, October 8, she will lie in state at Our Lady of the Scapular at 9:30AM, followed by a funeral mass at 10AM. She’ll be buried at Mt. Carmel Cemetery where she’ll join her husband, daughter, and parents. Josephine will be very missed. Her passing represents the end of an era for her family. In lieu of flowers or donations, spend time with your family, dance while you cook, and take one (!) sip of your favorite libation, while remembering sweet Josephine.

Josephine V. Spisz

November 13, 1917 - October 4, 2018