Marcella "Aunt Sally" Pizarek

During her recent hospitalization after a sudden, unexpected, devastating stroke when asked if she could give her name, “Aunt Sally” stated Marcella Cecilia Virginia Pizarek. She was able to even include her Confirmation name, as her Catholic religious beliefs have always been a key part of her life.

Marcella “Aunt Sally” was born at home on the family farm just outside of Michigan City, Indiana on November 22, 1926 joining her siblings as the youngest daughter, but she was no longer the baby of the family after her youngest brother was born. She attended St Mary of the Immaculate Conception Grade School and High School, graduating as Salutatorian of her class in 1945.

Marcella was very active in her church, Queen of All Saints of Michigan City, even serving several years as President of the Rosary Sodality. She enjoyed serving in officer and committee positions with Farm Bureau in the Township and County organizations. She loved gardening, growing vegetables and many flowers. She was an avid Bingo player, and always looked forward to attending annual Church Festivals and County Fairs. In Kansas, she was active at Wamego and Manhattan Senior Centers playing cards, doing puzzles, and other activities.

A highlight of her life was to travel to Europe, including Rome with her sister, Mary Jo in the 1950’s. In 1986, Marcella was excited to travel “west of the Mississippi” for the first time to spend 6 months visiting her niece in Colorado. In August of 1989, Marcella moved into the household of her niece in Greensburg, Kansas. In January of 1991, the family relocated to Wamego, Kansas, where Marcella has remained with them.

“Aunt Sally” was a fun-loving joyful lady who enjoyed playing all kinds of card games, especially pinochle, and board games. Being very competitive, she always played to win, no matter how young her competitors were. Throughout her life she has always loved children of all ages, making her a fantastic babysitter of her nieces and nephews in her earlier years, and grand-nieces/nephews in her later years, as she was always willing to join in any game or sport, inside or outside. As a lover of animals, she was happy holding cats, rabbits, and dogs, especially “Toto” on her lap, and she even let him sleep with her when he came to visit. She enjoyed sitting in the rabbitry for hours, loving nature.

Marcella is survived by the family who considered her as an additional live-in Grandmother, niece Cherie Pizarek (Tom) Trieb, Cory Garmon – Manhattan, KS, Bernadette Trieb – home, Annette Trieb – El Dorado, KS, William (Anne) Trieb + sons John & Peter – Salt Lake City, UT, brother Jacob (Janet) Pizarek – Wamego, KS, brother Jerome T Pizarek – Michigan City, IN, nephews Marc Pizarek IN/NC, Matt (Denise) Bankowski FL/TN, Michael (LouAnn) Bankowski TN, nieces Anne (Jim) Cadwell IN, Cindy (Phil) Sliwa OH, Pam Pizarek IN, additional grand-nephews/nieces + their families = Pete (Kathy) Pizarek, Amy (Andrew) Crane, Carin Cadwell, Craig (Deanna) Cadwell, Charlie Cadwell, Alison (Terry) Ladson, Greg (Eda) Pizarek, Kris (Brenna Ruth) Pizarek, PJ (Wanda) Sliwa, Tom Bankowski, Katie (Tony) Stahoviak, Heather (Jorge) Anaya; plus numerous great-grand- and great-great-grand-nephews/nieces.

Marcella was preceded in death by her grandparents, John (Pauline Timm) Pizarek & Peter (Matilda Schmitz) Mark; her parents, Joseph G (Mary Juliana Mark) Pizarek; siblings Sister Margaret Pizarek CSA, John P Pizarek, Mary Jo Pizarek, Joseph F Pizarek, James (Eleanor) Pizarek, Martha (Matt) Bankowski, and Gertrude Pizarek who died as an infant of the Flu in 1918; nephews James W Pizarek, Thomas T Pizarek, niece-in-law Kim Pizarek, grand-niece Coleen Cadwell, 16 Aunts/Uncles + their spouses, and 100+ cousins.

Marcella was a member of Seven Dolors Catholic Church & Circle 4, and St Isidore’s Catholic Student Center. Thank you to Father Gale Hammerschmidt for giving her comfort, Last Rights, and final Communion.

The family hopes that anyone who can, will join us at her 11:00 AM a Catholic Funeral Mass at Queen of All Saints Parish in Michigan City, Indiana with burial in Greenwood Cemetery on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 with visitation in the back of church at 10:00 AM. Memorial contributions can be made in her name to: St Isidore’s Catholic Student Center, 711 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502 Attention: Father Gale