Thomas Francis Wesley

WESLEY, THOMAS FRANCIS Born in Detroit, MI on April 24, 1929, Thomas “Tom” Francis Wesley (legally shortened from Wasielewski at age 11) lived to the ripe old age of 93 with much of his wits and white hair intact. He passed away peacefully in his home on Sunday October 9, 2022. Unsure whether to pursue engineering or pharmacy as a young man, he decided on the life of a “drug dealer”, graduating with his pharmacy degree from the Detroit Institute of Technology in 1951. Later that year, he married Eileen Reardon and within 12 months they welcomed their first child. They bred like rabbits afterwards resulting in nine children (one set of twins in the count) including Thomas Wesley, Mary Light, Eileen Wesley (Sandra Graca), Michael (Paula) Wesley, Maureen (Alan) Augustyniak, Martha Clarke, Janice (Steve) Grasl, James (Linda) Wesley, and Jack Wesley. In due time, 20 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren arrived, and they gifted the whole family with the beautiful legacy of their almost 70-year marriage. No doubt he longed to be reunited with so many dear friends and relatives he outlived including his wife he devotedly cared for in her final declining years, his older sister Mary Jane (Richard “Dick”) Hanser, and his younger sister Terry (Richard “Dick”) Reardon. Interestingly, Tom’s sister married Eileen’s brother creating a tight bond of blood and friendship. “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Mary Oliver the poet asks. Tom’s life revealed a “wild” and precious devotion to his family and his faith. Like many men of his era, he rarely said “I love you” to his family but instead attempted to show it in other ways. Except for the rare times of a Naval Reserve commitment or a men’s church retreat, Tom was always home when not at work. Memories of his children include: ∙ Reading newspapers, Catholic magazines, and pharmacy journals which were always lying around. He was a news media junkie and clipped and mailed articles or comics specific to the child that he hoped would amuse or educate. ∙ Hauling out the paper map or drawing out one on scrap paper, he was the first GPS, anxious until he could be assured his kids knew where the heck they were going. ∙ Vacationing “Up North” (before A/C) in the sweltering station wagon with a cooler of boloney sandwiches and Faygo pop, always providing a history lesson of the significance of the 45th parallel, the WPA, and the Mighty Mackinac Bridge. ∙ Tobogganing and ice skating in the winter, devouring cider mill hot doughnuts and cider in the fall, driving to Metro Beach, Stony Creek, Bob-Lo Island, Belle Isle, Boy Scout camps, and boat races in the summer, and throughout the year attending his kids’ sports matches, recitals, and the never-ending parent teacher conferences, looking dignified with a tie. Money was needed to pay for all that (did we mention braces?) and Tom worked hard as a pharmacist for over 40 years at Read Drug, an honored community landmark in Roseville, MI. Eventually he purchased a delivery van, and the children fondly remember placing lawn chairs to sit in for Sunday drives to Detroit Italian Bakery for pizzas. When your dad owns a drug store, you also enjoy the benefits of a “free “candy bar or bottle of pop when hanging out or working, and the status of walking behind the off-limits-to-mere-mortals elevated prescription counter. How can a man (almost) never call in sick? Almost never complain? That was Tom. His customers remember a kind, trustworthy “druggist” who often opened the locked door after closing hours to fill a much-needed prescription, or extended credit over, and over, and over. Sometimes the money was paid back; sometimes not. He served for years as a member and President of the Macomb County Pharmacy Association and was voted Preceptor-of-the-Year by the Wayne State College of Pharmacy. The students loved interning with Tom, studying the drugs after hours before they took board exams. Even after “retirement”, he continued working into his 80’s as fill-in relief at other pharmacies to help pay for the chocolate milk and McDonald’s Happy Meals he splurged on his grandkids during sleepovers and the many holiday parties he hosted with the whole brood. The Catholic Church was precious to Tom, including the dances and festivals. Oh, how he loved to dance! For almost four decades he was a parishioner at St. Basil’s in Eastpointe and later for three decades at St. Jane’s in Sterling Heights. He served as a lector during masses, participated in a mission trip to Appalachia and a pilgrimage to France, valued saying grace before meals, and attended mass every morning when able during his retirement years. As Tom drew his last breath, these words were read aloud to remind him the real wild and precious eternal life awaited: O God My Father, O Christ My Brother, O Spirit my Comforter, I am ready. Now meet me at this mortal threshold And deliver me to that eternal city; To your radiant splendor; To the table and the feast and The festival of friends; to the wonder and the welcome of my heart’s true home. . . A Liturgy from Every Moment Holy Volume II *In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to “Feeding America”. Visitation will be Friday from 3-9 at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons 36900 Schoenherr at Metro Parkway (16 mile). Funeral Saturday Instate 11:30 at St Jane Frances de Chantal 38750 Ryan Road Sterling Height, Until time of mass at 12:00. Share memories with the family at their "online guestbook" @ Wujekcalcaterra.com

Thomas Francis Wesley

April 24, 1929 - October 9, 2022