Obituary of Loretta M. Makowsky

Loretta M. (Szymczak) Makowsky, 92, of Duluth passed away in Heritage Haven on Friday, April 29, 2016, after a five year struggle with Alzheimers Disease. Loretta was born June 7, 1923, to George and Mary Szymczak. She married James A. Makowsky on Aug. 31, 1940, after graduating from Denfeld High School. Together they raised their five children. Loretta had many careers throughout her life and she retired from Independent School District No. 709 as a Cafeteria Manager. She worked at Washington Junior High, Cobb, Condon and Stowe Elementary Schools. Loretta enjoyed spending time at their cabin and fishing on Fish Lake, traveling, crafting her lawn chairs and tied blankets, completing puzzle books and coloring pictures. She was preceded in death by her husband, James A. Makowsky; her parents, George and Mary Szymczak; daughter-in-law, Linda M. Makowsky; brothers, Joseph H. Szymczak of Duluth and Jerome A. Szymczak of Calhan, Colo.; sisters, Florence LaVoie of North Fort Meyers, Fla., and Gertrude Swenson of Chisago City, Minn. Loretta is survived by her children, James (Joyce) Makowsky, of East Grand Forks, Minn., Darlene Jensen, of Duluth, Shirley (Larry) Fallang of Bullhead City, Ariz., Gordon Makowsky of Duluth and Patricia (Daniel) Stabs of Duluth; 12 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and 15 great-great-grandchildren and another due in July; sisters, Helen Johnson of Webster, Wis., and Mary Ann Chevalier of Colorado Springs, Colo.; many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. The family would like to thank the kind employees at Heritage Haven for the wonderful and thoughtful care given to Loretta. GATHERING OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS: 9 a.m. until the 10 a.m. memorial service Thursday, May 5, 2016, in the Cremation Society of Minnesota Chapel, 4100 Grand Ave., Duluth, 218-624-5200.