Mary Gratkowski, 103

Mary Ann Gratkowski (Piekarczyk), age 103, of Marcellus, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, April 7, 2021.

She was born in East Chicago, Indiana on January 21, 1918, the daughter of Andrew and Mary (Koscielniak) Piekarczyk. She is the last living sibling out of 10.

On October 11, 1941 in East Chicago, Indiana she married Frank J. Gratkowski of Decatur, who preceded her in death on March 11, 1989 in Marcellus.

Mary was not able to finish her High School during her teen years but as the years went by, she decided to go back to school to get her High School Diploma. She attended Marcellus High School night classes and at the age of 50 she graduated on May 28, 1968. She and her family were so immensely proud that she was able to have accomplished this at her age. She was a member of St. Margaret Mary Church in Marcellus until she moved to Frankfort, Illinois in 1998 where she lived with her daughter Alice until 2012. She then moved back to Michigan and lived with her nephew Bob and his wife Rose Piekarczyk where she then attended Edwards Corner Bible Church.

Mary was a homemaker until moving to Decatur, where she then worked on their farms in Constantine, Jones, and Marcellus. In her later years she worked for Taylor Made in Marcellus making windows and later for Shannon Turkey Farm, as well as at Honey Bear Canning in Lawton.

Mary is survived by her daughter Alice (Ray) Delgado of Eloy, Arizona; son Larry Gratkowski of Midland, Michigan; daughter-in-law Carole (Franklin) Gratkowski of Texas; 6 grandchildren Kelli (Tim) Chastoney of Kentucky, Mark Gratkowski of Maryland, Lynsey (Jack) Crego of Midland, Emily (Bob) Noteware of Manistee, Meghan (Jason) Hathaway of Jenison, and Katie Gratkowski of Midland; 9 great-grandchildren, Andrew and Ryan Chastoney, Skylar, Jackson, and Avery Crego, William and Hannah Noteware, Brianna and Carson Hathaway; many nieces and nephews; several great, great-great and great-great-great nieces and nephews, 2 sister-in-laws Vera (Kazmer) Gratkowski and Francis Klees.

She was preceded in death by her husband Frank J. Gratkowski in 1989; son Franklin Gratkowski in 2000; brothers and sister-in-laws Joseph and Genevieve Piekarczyk, Frank (Eli) and Mary Piekarczyk, Walter and Helen Pierkarczyk, Kazmer and Gloria Piekarczyk, Theodore and Jackie Piekarczyk, Louis and Lorraine Piekarczyk, Stanley (Pete) Piekarczyk, 2 sisters Violet and Roland Walenczkievich, Stella and Walter Rutkowski, brother-in-law Kazmer Gratkowski, sister and brother-in-law Catherine and Adam Polomczak, Stella and Buck Southworth, Bertha and Joseph Kowalski.

Visitation will be held from 10 to 11am on Saturday, April 17, 2021 at Edwards Corner Bible Church, 51047 Chamberlain Road in Marcellus. Services will follow at 11am with Pastor Joshua Wiggins officiating. Burial will follow at Marcellus Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Edwards Corner Bible Church. Online condolences may be left at www.materralstonfuneralhome.com