Joyce Mary Poterack (nee Klukowski)

Born Joyce Mary Klukowski on August 9, 1931 on the west side of Grand Rapids, Michigan, she was the third of five children of Alphonsus and Anastasia Klukowski. A graduate of Marywood Academy, she matriculated at Aquinas College where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1953. She received training in Physical Therapy at the University of Michigan the next year and proceeded to begin her practice of physical therapy toward the end of the polio epidemic, just years before the Salk and Sabin vaccines were introduced. She continued to work as a physical therapist at various places, among them St. Mary’s Hospital and the firm of Dykstra, Libby, Anthrop and Compton into the early 1990’s, taking a break in between to marry a man whose sense of humor she fell in love with for life (Robert Poterack) and to raise their three children together. She was a loving and cheerful woman with a keen, analytical mind, always available to her children and others in her life. She surprised and delighted doctors and nurses later in life with her energy and sharp mind, even on her sick bed, and her ability to “talk shop” about medicine with them – some of them younger than her own grandchildren. In retirement, and especially after the sudden death of her beloved husband of 38 years, Robert, she kept busy with home improvement projects, staying in touch with grandchildren, watching old movies and television shows, following politics, researching her Polish heritage, reading mystery novels and, above all, staying physically fit. In fact, she was so energetic, even into her mid-70’s, that one of her sons who accompanied her on mall walks was sometimes heard to remark, “Mom, could you slow the pace down a bit?” A true mulier fortis, she fought and defeated cancer many times during the last twenty years of her life, finally succumbing on October 16, 2017 at the age of 86. She is survived by her three children, Karl, Kurt and Anne, her sister Barbara, and numerous nieces, nephews and grandchildren. She wanted to thank the staff of Spectrum Hospital and Noelle Divozzo, her personal caregiver, who helped her greatly in the last years of her life. Also to be thanked are her sister, niece and grandniece (Barbara, Julie and Milena Ludden) whose many visits in the last year of her life in particular brought her good cheer, and also Theresa Trancik who was there at the very end. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday October18 at 10:00 AM at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, 156 Valley Avenue SW where visitors will be received an hour before the Mass. The rosary will begin a half-hour before Mass. Private interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Parish or the Sacred Heart Classical Academy. Go to the parish website, “sacredheartgr.com” and click on “Support Sacred Heart” on the menu bar.

Tributes

Joyce Mary Poterack (nee Klukowski)

August 9, 1931 - October 16, 2017