Harriet R. Bukowski
February 26, 1924 — January 6, 2011
Harriet R. Bukowski
HARRIET RUTH (SUMMERS) BUKOWSKI was born to Meredith Kimball Summers, Sr. & Ruth Lilly (Hale) Summers (Bolger) on February 26, 1924. Harriet & Anthony Bukowski spent 61 years in marriage, filled with great love & unyielding commitment that no dimension can severe. Harriet is survived by her loving husband, Anthony; daughters, Cynthia (Randy) Anderson, Bonnie (Dennis) Reinke; a son, Gordon Bukowski; a granddaughter, Morgan Maxson, her pride & joy; a brother, Jon (Helen) Bolger of Fairview; two special sister-in-laws, MaryAnn Knapp & Agnes Summers; & many nieces & nephews. Harriet is predeceased by both parents & a brother, Meredith K. Summers, Jr. of Alpena.
Originally from Fairview, Michigan, Harriet moved to Bay City in the early 1940s. She worked at Sears, Woodcraft & Autolite. At Autolite, Harriet helped to make parts for use in World War II. Harriet then married Anthony & became a loving wife, mother of three & later a grandmother. Harriet also leaves behind a Patagonian Conure, Tyler, whom she loved a great deal.
Those were some facts, but Harriet was a life with soul & character. Harriet's father was the DNR district supervisor for Oscoda County when she was young, giving her the opportunity to learn to love & care for animals, as there were times she would help care for the ones her dad would rescue. Her dad also raised bees, but they were a different matter; she once knocked the hives over to show her defiance & found out that a blanket really doesn't protect one from bee stings when they've been upset. She also learned that when given peas to plant & dumping them in an empty stump instead wasn't a wise thing to do. When a dead tree stump starts to grow peas, suspicions raise, along with the spanking board. One of Harriet's chores as a child was to fetch the cows from the creek & always delighted in reminiscing of her time playing with the frogs there. (Which reminds us of the time she put a Gartner snake in her teacher's desk.) And, her favorite lamb's name was Nancy. Even as an adult, Harriet would still have lessons to learn. Dad (Anthony) once brought home a 'turnip' & told Mom (Harriet) how good a meal it would make if it were stuffed & baked. She spent a whole day hollowing it out, making a stuffing & baking this 'turnip.' By the time Dad got home, the house was just filled with the most awful smell. He laughed & laughed. The 'turnip' was a sugar beet baking. Right then, Harriet wasn't laughing, but later she did.
Harriet had spirit & tenacity. She was resilient & showed strength when others would have given way to defeat. She led a life of personal principles & convictions, inspiring those who knew her.
The word most often used by people to describe my mother was 'gracious.' That:
"Harriet was a Gracious Lady."
Funeral and Committal services will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 10, 2011 at the Lashley Funeral Home. Internment will take place at the Fairview Cemetery in Fairview, Michigan. Friends may call at the Gephart Funeral Home, Inc. on Sunday from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. and on Monday at the Lashley Funeral Home (318 Pearl St., Mio, Michigan 48647) from 10:00 a.m. and until the time of services. In lieu of flowers those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to the Michigan Humane Society.
MOM, GRAMMA -- This is what we believe you would have told us, had you been given the time. It is how we will think of you.
"I GIVE YOU THIS ONE THOUGHT TO KEEP---
I AM WITH YOU STILL---I DO NOT SLEEP.
I AM A THOUSAND WINDS THAT BLOW,
I AM THE DIAMOND GLINTS ON SNOW,
I AM THE SUNLIGHT ON RIPENED GRAIN,
I AM THE GENTLE AUTUMN RAIN.
WHEN YOU AWAKEN IN THE MORNING'S HUSH,
I AM THE SWIFT, UPLIFTING RUSH
OF QUIET BIRDS IN CIRCLED FLIGHT.
I AM THE SOFT STARS THAT SHINE AT NIGHT.
DO NOT THINK OF ME AS GONE---
I AM WITH YOU STILL---IN EACH NEW DAWN."
MOM
WE WILL HOLD YOU IN OUR HEARTS & SOULS
WE WILL LOVE YOU FOR ALWAYS & FOREVER
REINKE, BONNIE & MORGAN
Originally from Fairview, Michigan, Harriet moved to Bay City in the early 1940s. She worked at Sears, Woodcraft & Autolite. At Autolite, Harriet helped to make parts for use in World War II. Harriet then married Anthony & became a loving wife, mother of three & later a grandmother. Harriet also leaves behind a Patagonian Conure, Tyler, whom she loved a great deal.
Those were some facts, but Harriet was a life with soul & character. Harriet's father was the DNR district supervisor for Oscoda County when she was young, giving her the opportunity to learn to love & care for animals, as there were times she would help care for the ones her dad would rescue. Her dad also raised bees, but they were a different matter; she once knocked the hives over to show her defiance & found out that a blanket really doesn't protect one from bee stings when they've been upset. She also learned that when given peas to plant & dumping them in an empty stump instead wasn't a wise thing to do. When a dead tree stump starts to grow peas, suspicions raise, along with the spanking board. One of Harriet's chores as a child was to fetch the cows from the creek & always delighted in reminiscing of her time playing with the frogs there. (Which reminds us of the time she put a Gartner snake in her teacher's desk.) And, her favorite lamb's name was Nancy. Even as an adult, Harriet would still have lessons to learn. Dad (Anthony) once brought home a 'turnip' & told Mom (Harriet) how good a meal it would make if it were stuffed & baked. She spent a whole day hollowing it out, making a stuffing & baking this 'turnip.' By the time Dad got home, the house was just filled with the most awful smell. He laughed & laughed. The 'turnip' was a sugar beet baking. Right then, Harriet wasn't laughing, but later she did.
Harriet had spirit & tenacity. She was resilient & showed strength when others would have given way to defeat. She led a life of personal principles & convictions, inspiring those who knew her.
The word most often used by people to describe my mother was 'gracious.' That:
"Harriet was a Gracious Lady."
Funeral and Committal services will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 10, 2011 at the Lashley Funeral Home. Internment will take place at the Fairview Cemetery in Fairview, Michigan. Friends may call at the Gephart Funeral Home, Inc. on Sunday from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. and on Monday at the Lashley Funeral Home (318 Pearl St., Mio, Michigan 48647) from 10:00 a.m. and until the time of services. In lieu of flowers those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to the Michigan Humane Society.
MOM, GRAMMA -- This is what we believe you would have told us, had you been given the time. It is how we will think of you.
"I GIVE YOU THIS ONE THOUGHT TO KEEP---
I AM WITH YOU STILL---I DO NOT SLEEP.
I AM A THOUSAND WINDS THAT BLOW,
I AM THE DIAMOND GLINTS ON SNOW,
I AM THE SUNLIGHT ON RIPENED GRAIN,
I AM THE GENTLE AUTUMN RAIN.
WHEN YOU AWAKEN IN THE MORNING'S HUSH,
I AM THE SWIFT, UPLIFTING RUSH
OF QUIET BIRDS IN CIRCLED FLIGHT.
I AM THE SOFT STARS THAT SHINE AT NIGHT.
DO NOT THINK OF ME AS GONE---
I AM WITH YOU STILL---IN EACH NEW DAWN."
MOM
WE WILL HOLD YOU IN OUR HEARTS & SOULS
WE WILL LOVE YOU FOR ALWAYS & FOREVER
REINKE, BONNIE & MORGAN
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