Birth date: Jan 23, 1922 Death date: Mar 7, 2013
Grace P. Winiarski Sturtevant – Mrs. Grace Patricia Winiarski, 91, went home to be with her Lord, Jesus Christ on Thursday, March 7, 2013. Grace was born in Milwaukee to the late Sidney and Virginia Chiodetti and before World Wa Read Obituary
Grace was my friend for many years. We were close and confided many things in each other . She was Ron’s Mom. I met Ron when we were 14 years old and stayed friends “almost” till the end. Thank you Dean for coming for Grace ❤️
Grace Winiarski, my mother, was quite a woman. She was a daughter to Virgina Chiodetti. She was a step daughter to Sidney Chiodetti. She was the wife of my father Raymond, mother to my half brother Ronald and half sister to my Aunt betty. She was a beautiful red headed woman that my father loved and cherished. She will be buried at Mount Olivet cemetery with other Winiarski family members, twelve in total. There may not be room for me, Dennis when my time comes?
My younger life was full of travel with mom and dad to Lake Winnebago and Lake Pewaukee. Grandpa Jonny Winiarski (better known as Jonny "Winers") lived on Lake Winnebago and Grandpa Sidney Chiodetti had a cottage on Lake Pewaukee. Both lakes and grandfathers played a central part of my family's younger lives.
Mom and my Aunt Betty tended bar at CY's Bar on 11th and National Avenue in Milwaukee. Grampa Sidney (CY) said they "attracted the boys." CY's Bar was a meeting place during WW II. Lonely wives and old men crowded CY's. All I remember, my eyes at knee height, was pushing my way between a forest of dancing legs and the beat of the loud Juke Box. Things went wild when someone put in a nickel and played "Boggy Woogie" Bugle Boy of Company B!
When my dad got back from the Philippine Islands, where he was a navy See Bee Medic with the Marines, he tried to make up for lost time. He borrowed a frind's Model "T" and road around with us like we were millonaires on tour. The rumble seat was windy, wet, and cold - but it was the seat that Ron and I wanted. Mom looked like a movie star sitting tight against dad. I was proud.
Life was great when I grew up. Dad was a plumber at the Stadium. The Braves always wanted dad's help with their plumbing. Occasionally I came home to find Eddy Mathews or another "Brave" sitting in my living room talking to mom and dad. The kids at school didn't believe me.
Mom and dad were always babysitting my three children Dean, Kim and Denise. They drove everywhere with them, the way they had with Ron and I. There was no place in a one day drive that they didn't visit. Live was an adventure. Mom would pack a lunch and we'd "hit the road" - not knowing where we would go. Then it was my turn to do the same with my kids.
I hope mom and dad have a good time touring Heaven. Ron's probably waiting in the rumble seat? I'll have to wait awhile before I see them. -- Dennis
