Miss "Aunt Pete" Jesionowski

Miss Petronella Jesionowski aged 90 went to be with the Lord on January 1 , 2012. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jan and Zuzanna Jesionowski, her brother Alex Jason, her twin sister Lottie Bialek, her brother-in-law Alexander Bialek, and her nephews Joseph Bialek and James Hurley. She is survived by her very close and dear friend Sophie Dochod of Grand Rapids and by her sister-in-law Florence Jason of Lansing NC. Also surviving are her nephews Thomas Bialek of Luzerne MI, Timothy Bialek of Kentwood MI, Edward Bialek (Jill) of Bay City MI, and Dennis Jason (Pam) of Lansing NC. Two nieces, Terri Bialek (Joe) of Howard City MI, and Patricia Hurley (Jim) of Eaton Rapids MI also survive. Petronella leaves behind several grand nieces and grand nephews and their children in Michigan and North Carolina, some of which are serving their country in the US Army, Air Force and Marine Corps. Some of Petronella's cousins also survive in Michigan, Massachusetts and California. Petronella's parents, Polish immigrants, met and married in Grand Rapids but returned to Poland with her brother Alex in 1921. Petronella and her twin sister Lottie were born during her parents' visit to Poland. Petronella came to the US as an infant while her sister Lottie remained separated from the rest of the family for 10 years. When Lottie finally came to the US, Petronella took it upon herself to look after her sister Lottie and teach her about living in America. The two of them were very close until Lottie died of cancer in 1991. Petronella was known by several names. Her parents called her Pietrusza or Piotra. Her nieces and nephews called her Aunt Pete or Aunt Peter. During her 36 years as a secretary and lab technician at Packaging Corp. of America (American Box Board Co.) she was known as Pat. Her neighbors also called her Pat. Still others called her Petra or Beatrice. This lady with the many monikers was a longtime member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Grand Rapids and assisted the office staff with preparing church bulletins into her 80s. She was a member of the GR Polish Heritage Choir and performed with the choir around the West Michigan area in the 1980s and 1990s. She continued to use her sopranic intonations to get the attention of the staff at Sanctuary at St. Mary's, her home since 2004. Staff members at the Sanctuary affectionately called her Petee. The family would like to thank the staff at Sanctuary of St. Mary's for all the love and care she received while she was there. Petronella and her sister Lottie learned the traditional Polish style of decorating Easter eggs from their mother Zuzanna. These traditional Polish style Easter eggs are called "pisanki". Petronella and her sister Lottie were accomplished hands at decorating "pisanki" with a needle, paraffin wax and dye. She and her sister Lottie would decorate eggs every year on Good Friday. Later on she continued the practice by teaching her grand neice and nephews the craft. Petronella liked to travel abroad and participated in several tours to Europe and Israel in the 60s and 70s. In 1972 she visited her relatives in Poland with her sister Lottie. A Mass of Christian burial and committal service will be celebrated Thursday 11:00 am at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church where she will repose one hour before the mass. The family will receive visitors Wednesday 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm at the Arsulowicz Brothers Mortuary, 585 Stocking Ave NW where the rosary will be prayed Wednesday 7:30 pm. In lieu of flowers the family would like memorial contributions made to Hospice of Michigan and the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.

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Miss "Aunt Pete" Jesionowski

June 26, 1921 - January 1, 2012