Florence Joan Birch

BIRCH, Florence J. (nee Maciolek). Passed away on Mother's Day, May 11, 2014. Age 98. Beloved wife of the late Leonard. Loving mother of Dianne Clements, Barbara (Kenneth) Koster, Brian (Patricia) Birch, Mark (Judith) Birch, Robert (Sue) Birch and the late Philip (Susan) Birch. Proud and loving grandmother of 14 and great-grandmother of 3. Dear sister of Marceline Uzark. Predeceased by her siblings Josephine, Julia, Cass, Chris, Jean, Agnes, Stella and Aniella. Florence married the late Leonard A. Birch on July 3, 1937 at St. Stephen Catholic Church in New Boston, MI and were married for 62 years. When horse racing wagers needed to be made for any family member, long-time Warren resident Florence was quick to make the trek over to Hazel Park Raceway during a nearly 50-year span. Florence visited the racetrack up through her early 90's, and also frequented Northville Downs, Windsor Raceway and the Detroit Race Course (DRC) over the years. Additionally she enjoyed playing cards, going to various casinos and an occasional trip to Niagara Falls. In her early years, Florence was a waitress at J.L. Hudson's and the Statler-Hilton Hotel in Detroit. After decades as a loving homemaker, she went back to waitressing for special occasions at The Royalty House in Warren. Florence also loved to garden in her back yard, where neighbors often found her toiling with her tomatoes and cucumbers even as recently as last summer. A dedicated Catholic who attended church regularly throughout her life, Florence was a founding member of both the Church of the Divine Child in Dearborn and St. Martin dePorres parish in Warren. Florence was born in Detroit but grew up at a farm on Waltz Road in New Boston, MI, where she attended the local one-room schoolhouse through the eighth grade. Florence celebrated her 98th birthday with family on May 4th and will be sorely missed by her family, friends at Sunrise of Shelby and Hazel Park Raceway. Visitation Wednesday 3-9pm with a 7:00pm Rosary at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons, Inc., 36900 Schoenherr at Metro Parkway (16 Mile). Instate Thursday 9:00am until time of 9:30am Mass at St. Martin dePorres Catholic Church, 31555 Hoover Rd. (S. of 14 Mile Rd.), Warren. Interment, Michigan Memorial Park, Flat Rock. Please share memories with the family at their "On-Line Guestbook" at WujekCalcaterra.com

Florence Joan Birch

May 4, 1916 - May 11, 2014