Zlatica "Goldie" Wiszynski

Goldie Wiszynski was a strong, supportive woman, who devoted her life to caring for those around her. She lived through difficult times, yet was never hardened by them. Goldie was a loving mother and grandmother, and a good friend to many. Most of all, she was a woman who taught us to work hard, love deeply, and laugh often, just as she always did. Goldies story began on a warm fall day in 1926, in the eastern European country of Yugoslavia. Those were turbulent times in the country, which in those days was known as the Kingdom of Serbs, and ruled by King Alexander I. Much of Europe was still recovering from the hardships of World War I, and times were tough for many. Yet on September 11, 1926, Joseph and Emma Ivancevic found a reason to rejoice, with the birth of a beautiful baby girl, a daughter they named Zlatica. Zlatica, or Goldie, as she would come to be called, was the second of the couples four children, joining her sister Maria and brothers Carlos and Francis. Her father was a house painter and artist, while her mother cared for the kids and their home in the country. When Goldie was a young girl, her father packed up the family and moved them half-way around the world to Argentina, in hopes of escaping the impending World War II. Her dad had lived through the hardships of World War I, and wanted a better life for his family. They settled in a town called Morn, a suburb of Buenos Aires, where the young Goldie adapted rather quickly. Goldie had to learn new languages there, and took on new languages rather easily, eventually mastering seven different ones. She also attended Catholic school there, where she had a tougher time. She was left-handed, which in those days was greatly looked down upon, and the nuns at the school tied her hand behind her back to train her to be right-handed, believing left-handedness to be the sign of the devil. So Goldie learned to use both hands. Goldie attended school through the eighth grade, as was so common in those days, and began helping around the home. Her mother taught her to sew, to cook and to clean, as were the traditional skills mothers taught their daughters. One day when Goldie was a young woman, her brother introduced her to a young man named Josef Wiszynski, who had fled his native Poland for Argentina to escape the war, as well. Josef was a very handsome young man, with wavy hair, and the sparks flew between them. They began dating, fell in love, and were soon married. The young couple celebrated the birth of their first child, daughter Olga. Then in 1954, wanting a better life for their family, Josef packed up and moved to Muskegon, Michigan in the United States, where some of his family had come. He went to work at Drelles Restaurant, and saved his money, while Goldie also worked back in Argentina to make ends meet. In 1956, Goldie and Olga joined Josef in Muskegon, and lived in a home on Wood Street for awhile, before settling into a lovely house on Washington Avenue, near Nims School. Goldie found work as a seamstress at Muskegon Osteopathic Hospital, and also began making clothes. The couple added to their family in 1960, with the birth of their son George, and daughter Terri rounded out the family in 1964. Goldie was a very involved, loving mother, despite being a tireless worker outside the home. She volunteered at the kids school, was a room mother, active in the PTA, served as a Girl Scout leader and the Cub Scouts, too. She also attended all their sporting events and school activities, too. She was well-known for loading up the car with neighborhood kids to take them to the school football games, and sewed her share of prom dresses over the years, too! Goldie also generously sewed her share of choir robes for Our Saviors Lutheran Church, where she was an active member for many years. The family did much together over the years, and especially liked going up north to Twin Lake for barbecue picnics in the summertime. They also took a memorable family vacation to Canada. Yet in 1977, Goldies marriage to Josef ended in divorce. While it was a difficult time, she picked herself up and did whatever she needed to, ever the strong, supportive woman she was. She went to work as a seamstress for Bud Meier Cleaners for a time, before finding a job at Mercy Hospital, first in housekeeping and later as an orderly and translator. Goldie worked incredibly hard to provide for her children, and even helped put them all through college. She was so proud of each of them, and delighted in sharing in their accomplishments. Goldie also continued her sewing business out of her home, making the uniforms for the Muskegon High School Color Guard, as well as her daughter Terris wedding dress. When her grandchildren began arriving, Goldie couldnt have been happier, and doted on those kids, who all called her Nana. Goldie finally retired from Mercy Hospital in 1993, taking her well-deserved retirement after a lifetime of hard work. She enjoyed her free time, and loved spending more time with her family. But in August of 1994, Goldie suffered a stroke. Her doctors told her she would never walk again, but they didnt know Goldie. She worked very hard on her recovery, and was on her feet by January, proving her doctors wrong. Goldie went to live with her daughter Olga and her family in Twin Lake, where she lived for the next seven years. Eventually, Goldie required more care than Olga could provide, and she went to live at Hillcrest Assisted Living. She was loved by the staff and the residents alike there, who appreciated her caring demeanor and funny, upbeat attitude. Goldie had a wonderful, dry wit, and a great sense of humor. Goldie lived at Hillcrest for seven years, but eventually, her health began to decline as the years progressed. Sadly, she died there on Saturday, August 9, 2008. Goldie was a wonderful woman, such a strong, supportive lady, who devoted her life to the people around her. She faced many challenges in her lifetime, yet enjoyed so many triumphs, none greater than the children and grandchildren she loved most of all. She will be greatly missed. Goldie is survived by her 2 daughters, Olga (Larry) Workman of Twin lake, Terri (Ed) Haas of Farmington; 1 son, George (Carol) Wiszynski of Silver Springs, MD; 4 grand children, Lauren, Jake & Lindsay Haas, Michal Wiszynski. A memorial gathering is scheduled for Tuesday, August 12, 2008, 6-8 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home with a time of sharing at 7:00 PM. Memorial donations may be made to the Muskegon Humane Society. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or sign the online guest book.