Mary Witkowski
CALUMET — Mary Witkowski passed away on the morning of Tuesday, April 21st, amongst her daughter Kathryn’s family in Ann Arbor after suffering a stroke on April 8th and fighting cancer for the past two years. She was 77 years old.
Mary Ann Witkowski was born in Detroit on September 28, 1942 to John and Jennie Witkowski. She grew up in Detroit and graduated from St. Florian’s High School in Hamtramck in 1960. She received a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Detroit in 1964.
Mary was married in August 1963 to Richard Kedzior and they lived in Hamtramck until June 1968 when they moved to Calumet. Mary Ann was a homemaker for her four children, Kathryn, Ruth, Rich and Mary Beth. She also worked as a substitute teacher and volunteered at St. Paul’s Church and Sacred Heart Elementary School in Calumet. Mary and Richard divorced in 1978.
Mary briefly worked in radio then began her 33-year career as a real estate professional. In 1978, she began working at Hancock radio station WMPL in ad sales and on-air as host of the Tradio program, then at station WGGL in Houghton in 1979. She obtained her real estate license in 1981 and worked as an agent for Barbara LaFex Lewis of Great Lakes Real Estate then Douglass Real Estate of Houghton, after Great Lakes and Douglass merged. She also served as executive director of the Shelter House for Abused Women in Calumet.
Mary moved to Grand Rapids in 1986 and continued to work in real estate as an agent and broker for Coldwell Banker/AJS Realty until she retired in 2013. While based in Grand Rapids, Mary served on the regional and state Realtor Boards of Directors. She attended Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas and the Dominican Chapel at Marywood in Grand Rapids.
Mary spent her retirement caring for her dear brother, Father Robert Witkowski, in Shelby Twp, Michigan. She had several life-long friends in the Detroit area, the Copper Country and Grand Rapids.
Mary is survived by her brother, Fr. Robert Witkowski; children Kathryn Corey (Joe), Ruth Kedzior, Rich Kedzior (Claudia), and Mary Beth Kedzior; and her grandchildren Carolyn, David, Logan, Emerson, and John Sebastian.
Mary will always be remembered by her children, brother, and numerous cousins and friends for her selflessness, warmth, generosity, compassion, Christian charity, devotion, and sense of duty, especially while caring for her mother and brother.
Burial and graveside service occurred at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield, MI on April 23rd. A memorial service has not yet been scheduled.