Hilda Szlavik

It is with great sadness. We announce that our mother, grandmother, and Ohma, Hilda Szlavik, 93, of Greenush, Michigan passed away Saturday, May 17, 2014 at home. Hilda was born on May 17, 1921, in Slezko, Moravia (Czech Republic), the elest daughter of Frank and Katherina (Ondratchek) Sporanek. She often would reminisce of her wonderful childhood, brother and sister and special moments she shared with her father. Intelligent, independent, and full of life, mother was rich in spirit and adventure. After the War she made her way to America and settled in the Detroit area. Hilda took great pride in her career. She began in design in 1952. By 1953 she worked for Ford Motor Company until her pregnancy. She returned to work in 1959 with Special Engineering where she was a designer/mechanical engineer in the automotive industry – she worked there for 30 years. She retired at 62 only to come out of retirement to work for Brooks & Perkins Aeronautical until age 69. Hilda and Andrew retired to Greenbush in the 1980s and it was there amongst her flowers and forest animals that she took great pleasure. The squirrels and other wildlife will miss her toasted bread snacks that she would leave behind for them, because, “toasted bread tasted so much better!” Hilda had a passion for history and languages, she loved to tell stories of the past, found pleasure in keeping up with Facebook and was still eager to learn right up to the very end. She loved to have fun, play games and always found something that she could buy to give to someone else. She absolutely loved her coffee, good and hot with half and half and sugar with a little something sweet. Hilda’s outgoing nature gathered friends wherever she went. Whether it was the bank, drugstore, or a stranger, Mom was always memorable and regarded fondly. Hilda was preceded in death by her first husband Hans Merte (d. 1944), second husband Andrew Szlavik (d. 1999) and her brother Jaromir (Miro) Sporanek. Mom is survived by her sister Sonja Lenochova of Slovakia; her daughters, Ruth (Ron) MacKinnon, Statesboro, GA and Dorothea (Glendale) Housworth, Nelson BC and sons John Szlavik and Daniel Montague, Black River, MI. Ten grandchildren: Stephen (Danna) MacKinnon Chilliwack, BC; Allison (Kevin) Pohl, Farmington Hills,MI; Michelle (Simon)Kent, Rothesay, New Brunswick; Allan Mackinnon, Taiwan; Sarah MacKinnon (Geordie Mac Donald) Ottawa, ON; Michael (Crystal) Hines, Kelowna, BC; Nicholas Hines (Tanya Osadchuk) Slave Lake, AB; Katie (Graham) McCargar Maple Ridge, BC; Richard (Kristy) Housworth, Colville, WA; and Tiffany (Jim) Carriere, Lethbridge, AB. Ohma leaves behind 24 beloved great grandchildren, a number of special nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews, the Cherry family (formerly Greenbush, MI) and extraordinary friends and neighbors. Holy Mary, Mother of God, look over Mom, may she be free from pain and blanketed in peace. Mom your death leaves a heartache that is hard to heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. A memorial service will be Friday, June 27, 2014 at 11:00 AM at St. Anne Catholic Church in Harrisville. Rev. Robert Bissot and Rev. Lawrence Boks will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alcona County Commission on Aging or St. Anne’s Altar Society. Harrisville, MI. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Hilda Szlavik, please visit our flower store.