Stella Karek

Stella Karek, age 94, of St. Johns, MI, passed away Sunday, March 20, 2022, at Sparrow Clinton Hospital, St. Johns, MI. 
     A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Johns, MI, at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, March 22, 2022,  with Rev. Fr. Michael Williams presiding. Burial will take place at Eureka Cemetery, Eureka, MI. Visitation will be held on Monday, March 21, 2022 from 5-8 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes - Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI and also on Tuesday from 10:00 A.M. until the time of service at the funeral home. 
    Stella was born in Gratiot County, MI on May 8, 1927, the daughter of Frank and Sophia (Tarska) Gurski. Stella married Frank Karek on November 20, 1942 at St. Cyril's Catholic Church, Bannister, MI. They celebrated 33 years of marriage prior to his sudden death on January 31, 1977 due to an auto accident. 
     Stella worked at General Motors, drove school bus for St. Johns Public Schools and was an Avon representative for many years. Stella always raised a big garden and she enjoyed canning and baking. She loved having her family home to celebrate holidays together.  
    She is survived by son Tom and Pat Karek of St. Johns, MI,daughter Shirley and Roy Davis of St. Johns, MI, daughter Jean Cuthbert of St. Johns, MI, son Bob and Linda Karek of St. Johns, MI, and son-in-law Charlie Doolittle of St. Louis, MI. She is also survived by grandchildren: Todd, Jeff, Karen, Roy, Randy, Cindy, Christy, Chad, Craig, Amy, Angie, Matt, Andy, Ben and several great grandchildren. Stella was preceded in death by her parents, husband Frank Karek, son Frank Karek, Jr., daughter Sharon Doolittle, daughter Mary Ann, daughter-in-law Kathy Karek, son-in-law Jack Cuthbert, granddaughter Katrina, grandsons Charlie Jr. and Ron, sisters: Helen Cameron, Wanda Brehault, Mary Pratt, and brothers: Frank, Ted, and Stanley Gurski, and George Goscinski. 
     Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church or St. Joseph Catholic School. Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes - Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, Michigan.