Helen Drogowski. 1929-2021
Helen Drogowski of National City cashed in her one way ticket to Heaven on Saturday November 20th. Helen passed away at her residence peacefully at the age of 91 with her family at her side.
Helen previously spent most of her early life in the downriver area of Allen Park raising her six children. She married Frank Drogowski one year after he was honorably discharged from the US Army. According to her daughters they never tired of hearing their Mom tell the story on how she met her husband. When she saw this handsome man up a telephone pole in her back yard in Detroit she asked her grandmother if she had any trash for the dumpster located near the pole.
The rest is history, this Michigan Bell telephone installer spotted his future bride and until death do them part they were married on April 19th 1947 at Visitation Catholic Church in Detroit. At the age of 17 Helen first had to tell the nuns at school she was leaving to be married and yes she had her mothers blessing.
Frank and Helen moved to their first home in Allen Park and started a family. Four girls and two boys. Helen joined the Allen Park American Legion Post 409 where her husband served as commander and she served as auxiliary president. Helen was awarded a Life time Membership to the auxiliary.
Helen and her husband moved to Clearwater Florida after his retirement from Michigan Bell. After his death in 1991 Helen moved back to Michigan and resided with her oldest daughter and son-law in Taylor.
It was here that Helen enjoyed working with her daughter at L & M Fundraising until Rose Ann’s husband retired and they moved to National City a small town in Northern Michigan near Tawas.
Helen enjoyed living up north and joined the Sand Lake Women’s Auxiliary and assisted her daughter with numerous activities within the organization, It was here she became well known for her famous homemade potato soup and polish dishes. Helen enjoyed her new friends she met at the Community Center and looked forward to card games and bingo.
Helen was a Detroit Tigers fan and enjoyed Jet’s pizza and Greek town lamb chops.
Helen is survived by her children Rose Ann (Frank) Kreitner, Francine (Edwin) Bretschneider, Frank (Diana) Drogowski, Michelle (Charles) Magee, daughter in law Norma Drogowski, son in law Charles Peake and 14 grandchildren.6 great grandchildren,2 great great grandchildren. Helen is preceded in death by her parents Harry & Rose Bauer Stepfather Eugene LaFlech, husband Francis Drogowski, brother Kenneth Bauer and sister Lillian Smith, also daughter Barbara Drogowski and son Joseph Drogowski.
Visitation took place on Friday November 26th at Buresh Funeral Home 121 South Washington Street Hale.
Burial will take place Monday November 29th at Our Lady of Hope Cemetery Southgate MI.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sand Lake Women’s Auxiliary 2001 Indian Lake Road National City MI 48748.
