Jeanette E. Costin Wianecki

Wianecki, Jeannette E. Costin passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 1, 2006 at St. Anne’s Mead in Southfield, Michigan. She was 99. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Robert and Karen Costin of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and her daughter and son-in-law Georgianna and Richard Regnier of Camarillo, California, her sister Henrietta Wawrzyniak, grandchildren Shelly, Laura, Robert, Kay, Scott, Dawn, Brad and Elizabeth, 12 great-grandchildren, and her nieces and nephews. She will be lovingly remembered by her family and many friends. Jeannette’s remarkable life began after her parents, Frank and Anna Halejak, left Czestochowa, Poland to set sail for America. Soon after the arduous voyage on rough seas and the many hardships endured by her parents, she was born Jeannette Elizabeth Halejak on February 17, 1907, in Milwaukee, full of energy, determination, and a love for travel, all of which prevailed throughout her life. Always adventurous, she bought her first car in 1927 at age 20 and traveled alone along dirt country roads to her job in Iowa, leaving the awestruck farmers along the way in her dust. In 1930 she met Wesley Costin in Milwaukee. They were soon married and raised three children, Robert, Iris and Georgianna. In 1946, after her husband passed away, she became the president of the family automotive business. During those years she was President of the National Avenue Advancement Association and an officer in the National Federation of Business and Professional Woman’s Club. Her service to the community was extensive, including President of the Southside Woman’s Club, Treasurer and life member of Polanki, a Polish cultural organization, Chairman of the Southside Cancer Center, and a volunteer at the Red Cross. She was also an active member of the Milwaukee Garden Club and was Program Director for AARP until her move to Michigan in 2003. Her great strength of character and sense of commitment enabled her to focus on others throughout her lifetime. Visitation on Wednesday, April 5, from 4 to 8pm, at the Max A. Sass & Sons Greenridge Chapel, 4747 S. 60th Street, Greenfield, and again at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 6, at WISCONSIN MEMORIAL PARK - CHAPEL OF THE CHIMES (132nd and W. Capitol Drive) followed by memorial services in the Chapel of the Chimes at 11 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to Polanki, Inc., P.O. Box 341458, Milwaukee, WI 53234.