♥♥My Paternal Grandma♥♥


Five Time Blue Star Mother During World War II

Daughter of Polish immigrants, Pawel Dolecki & Anna Kalinowski.

Katherine married John Koper, a Polish immigrant, in Detroit, Michigan, on September 6, 1909, in Sweetest Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Katherine had been a parishioner at Sweetest Heart since her baptism @ a few days old and attended school there with her siblings.
Even though Katharine was a US citizen, she lost her citizenship when she married an alien. The 1900 US Census listed her as a citizen born in Michigan. The 1920 US Census listed her as a "alien" born in Michigan.
Katharine didn't have her citizenship reinstated until December 4, 1940 (under an act that was amended June 25, 1936), that is the date on my Grandma's Repatriation Papers (I have the originals), 2 years after John became a naturalized citizen.

Katherine & John raised their children in St. Hyacinth's Catholic Parish in Detroit, Michigan. 5 of her 6 sons names are on a plaque at the back of the Church acknowledging their service in WWII. A special Mass was said for each soldier before he went off to war.
Cars & pedestrians used to stop or linger in front of the house to acknowledge & show respect to the 5 flags with the blue stars that Grandma proudly displayed in the front window.
All 5 of Katherine's boys returned home safely to her loving arms & to raise families.

Katherine was a homemaker (the toughest job in the world!) and is remembered by those who love her as the nicest lady and BEST cook in the world. Her recipes have been handed down through the generations.

I never knew my Grandma Koper, but my Parents, Sisters, Brothers, Aunts, Uncles, & Cousins, have all told me what a wonderful & beautiful woman she was. I hear she gave great HUGS and was very soft.

Dear Mother of Helen (Joe) Stempien, Lottie (Harry) Nowakowski, Walter (Vera) Koper, Norbert (Virgie) Koper, Dorothy (Tony) Zuzga, Gertrude (Joe) Novak, Margret (Joe) Sliwinski, John (Sally) Koper, Raymond (Elvera) Koper, Barney (Margie) Koper, Irvin (Sophia) Koper, Catherine (Tom) Palmer.

She was predeceased by 2 sons, Edward, Antoni, & her beloved parents.

Grandmother of 39, 13 granddaughters & 26 grandsons.

My grandma and Anna Dolecki Wroblewski weren't only sisters they were best buddies. They both married Polish immigrants named John, just a few months apart for starters. Anna and Katherine each had large families with children about the same ages. Their families also ended up purchasing homes on Farnsworth across the street from one another. They even went with each other to have their citizenship reinstated.
Anna also passed within six months of her baby sister Katherine's passing.