Marie Gorski

Marie A. Gorski, 93, of Waukesha, died peacefully on Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at her home. She was born in Milwaukee on January 13, 1918, the daughter of Anthony Joseph and Francesca (nee Castrovinci) Corrao originally from St. Agata, Sicily. On November 30, 1940 she married Jerome "Harry" F. Gorski; he preceded her in death in 1983. Marie worked as a waitress at many restaurants including The Bay, South Shore Yacht Club, Walgreens at Southgate, Dinner Bell, JC Penney at Southridge, Meurers in Milwaukee and Waukesha until her retirement at age 72. Always the life of the party, Marie was the dancing queen at the Blue Canary in Milwaukee. She also enjoyed dancing in Pine River near her Fremont Cottage. Marie was an excellent seamstress for her friend Monet's costumes, daughters' and granddaughter's wedding gowns, baptismal gowns and first communion dresses. She also enjoyed crocheting afghans. Marie had a special love for children and was a nanny for numerous families in Waukesha, who still call her Grandma Gorski. She was a babysitter and "caterer" for some SDW Chapter One family events. An excellent cook, Marie was chef extraordinaire of many delicious traditional Italian-Sicilian dishes and pastries. She is well known for her "Christmas Lasagnas!" As a former member of St. Paul Catholic Church in Milwaukee, Marie was a Christian Mother and a chauffeur for the Sisters at St. Paul School. She was currently a member at St. Mary Catholic Church in Waukesha. Marie will be fondly remembered as a loving wife and special companion, mother, sister, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, Godmother and a neighbor to many in Waukesha, Fremont, Franklin, Milwaukee, WI and Chula Vista, CA.  She will be sadly missed by her children: Bill A. (Carolyn Anderson) Corrao of Santa Paula, CA, Sandi (Butch) Ernst of Milwaukee and Nancy (Tom) Wilhelmi of Waukesha, her grandchildren: Teresa (Ben) Villa, Caryn (Ron) Folkes, Patti Ybarra-Patchett, and Sandra (Erick) Cortez all of California, Scott (fiancé Kathy Kendzierski), Curt (Tanya) Hoffman, Valeri (Howard Farley) Hoffman all of Milwaukee, Michelle Wenslaff (Jim Dempsy) of Brookfield, Jeffery (Kandi) Ernst of Milwaukee, Scott (Nancy) Ernst of Mukwonago, Stephen (Robynn) Wilhelmi of West Palm Beach, FL and Carlyn (Dave) Cunningham of Waukesha, her great-granchildren: Joey and Ashley Villa, Jessica, Sabina and Kristina Ybarra, Ericka Cortez, Michael and Matthew Hoffman, Dustin, Jesse, Alyssa and Austin Hoffman, Tyler and Emily Wenslaff, Jennifer (Seth) Swen, Amanda and Amber Ernst, Sarah and Nerissa Ernst, Kylie and Jacob Wilhelmi, her great-great-grandson Michael Swen, along with a great-granddaughter and great-great-grandson on the way. She is further survived by her sisters Saraphine Ronowski of Milwaukee and Josephine Mundigler of Oak Creek, sister-in-law Anna Corrao of Milwaukee, special family friends Patty (Gil) Glodoski, along with nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. In addition to her husband Harry, she was preceded in death by her brothers: Ignatius, Carmello, and Biagio Corrao, her sister Rose Digiovanni and in 2008 her significant other, Johnnie Champan.  The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Dr. Thomas Wittmann and Dr. Logan Elongovan, along with Pro Health Palliative and Rolland Nelson Crossroads Hospice. Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 16, 2011 from 4:00 until the 6:00PM funeral Mass at St. Mary Catholic Church, 225 S. Hartwell Avenue, Waukesha. Rev. Howard Haase will preside. Graveside services will be held on Friday, June 17, 2011 at 10:00AM at St. Adalbert Catholic Cemetery in Milwaukee. Please meet at the cemetery gate. For further information, please call Randle-Dable Funeral, Cremation and Preplanning Services at 262-547-4035 or go to www.waukeshafunerals.com to leave the family an online tribute.