DEATH NOTICES
Susan K. Courech
Suzanne H. Hughes
Susan K. Courech, 68, of Alpena, passed away Friday, April
12, 2019 at MidMichigan Medical Center-Alpena.
Susan was born July 1, 1950 in Niles, Mich., to the late John
and Louise (Gilmore) Earl. She graduated from Utica High
School in 1968. She went on to attend Oakland University
where she would meet Greg Courech. The two fell in love
and were married in 1972. Susan was very creative and was
known for her Santa dolls that she made every year and sold
hundreds of them at local craft shows. Susan’s greatest gift
however was that of being a wonderful wife and mother.
Greg and Susan have been members of Canada Creek Ranch
since 1984. Suzanne Helen (Papke) Hughes – age 74 passed away at her
home in Otisville on Monday, April 29, 2019. She was born
May 11, 1944 to Arthur and Louise Papke in Detroit, Michigan.
She was raised in Detroit and graduated from Wayne State
University in 1966 with a major in Political Science. She
became a Personnel Staffing Specialist with the IRS. She
married Richard L. Hughes on June 22, 1968 and that date
turned out to make both sets of their parents happy as they
had also been married on June 22, in 1936. She retired from
the IRS to raise her children. In 1986 she received her teaching
certificate and began teaching high school students at
LakeVille Memorial High School and then in Lapeer. In 1994
she received a Master ’s Degree in Criminal Justice from
Saginaw Valley State University. Earlier she had received a
Master ’s Degree from Marygrove College in the Art of
Teaching. She retired from Lapeer Community Schools in 2008
after several years as Principal of the at-risk high school.
A celebration of life took place Saturday, April 20, 2019 from
2 p.m. until the time of the memorial service at 3:30 p.m. at
McWilliams Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers please consider
a memorial donation to Toys for Tots at www.toysfortots.org.
Online
condolences
can
be
registered
at
www.mcwilliamsfh.com. Suzanne is survived by her husband, retired Judge Richard L.
Hughes of Otisville, MI; a daughter Elizabeth Hughes
Latchana (Mark) of Davison, MI; a son Michael James Hughes
(Teresa) of Glen Easton, WV; five grandchildren Eva, Abby
and William Latchana and Wesley and Ryan Hughes; a sister
Diane (Papke) Williams of Novi, MI as well as several cousins.
Susan is survived by her husband Greg of 46 years; three
children, Kimberly Tucker, John Courech (Michelle Burns),
Lisa Courech; grandson Michael Tucker and her brother John
(Pat) Earl of Atlanta, Mich. She was preceded in death by her
parents John and Louise Earl of Atlanta, Mich.
Suzanne not only had a successful career but was also
involved in many activities over the years. She was an intern
in the Michigan State Senate, she was co-chairperson of the
United Way of Genesee and Lapeer Counties (1979-80) and
Cabinet Vice Chairperson (1981-82). She was the only elected
national delegate for Ronald Regan from Genesee County to
the Republican National Convention in 1980. In 1981, she
was named one of the ten most outstanding women in
Michigan by the Michigan Jaycettes, and she played a
significant role in the “Just Say No” to drugs campaign in the
early 80s. In 1982 she was the Thumb area coordinator for a
gubernatorial candidate. She has been an active member of
First Presbyterian Church of Flint for many years, where she
was elected as an Elder, was an usher and later was charged
with leading the usher program from 2010 to 2018.
Patricia A. Cywinski
Patricia A. Cywinski was born on December 31, 1933 in
Dearborn, Michigan. She was the second and youngest child
of the late Michael and Ruth Schwab. Pat passed away
suddenly on May 18, 2019 with her family by her side.
Pat, as her friends and family called her, was a loving and
kind woman. Pat enjoyed spending time at the family’s
cottage at Canada Creek Ranch with family and friends. She
never let her beloved hummingbirds go hungry and would
delight at the orioles and spotting deer. Pat’s true passion
was golf. Pat could often be found on the links playing the
game she loved.
Pat met the love of her life, Richard Cywinski, while working
at Ford’s Rouge Office building. On October 27, 1956 they
married and began their life together. Patricia was the loving
mother of Carole (Patrick) Karbon, Cynthia (Dave) Hutton,
the late Cheryl (Patrick and Karen) Giesa and Michael
Cywinski (Lisa). Proud grandma of Kate (Drew) Gilbey, Scott
Karbon, Erin (Keifer) Pantke, Kevin Hutton (Breanna), Bryan
Hutton, Elli (Brian) Osborn, John Giesa, Joseph, Jacquelyn
and Jenna Cywinski and great-grandma of Kaiya, Blake and
Brandon Osborn, Natalie and Owen Giesa and Jack Gilbey.
Dear sister of the late Buddy Schwab.
For all of her accomplishments, when asked what was her
most important role in life, she responded by saying that it
was raising her two children and being a loving parent and
grandparent. Suzanne certainly impacted the lives she
touched, and she will be sorely missed by family and friends.
In honor of Suzanne’s request, cremation will take place. A
memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of
Flint (746 S. Saginaw Street, Flint, MI 48502) on Saturday,
May 11, 2019 at 11am, preceded by a visitation at 10am, with
a luncheon to follow in the Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers,
memorial contributions may be made to the Children’s
Ministry Fund at First Presbyterian Church of Flint (746 S.
Saginaw Street, Flint, MI 48502), the Music Fund at First
Presbyterian Church of Flint (746 S. Saginaw Street, Flint, MI
48502), and/or the American Cancer Society (please indicate
in the memo line “for research”) (1755 Abbey Road, East
Lansing, MI 48823).
Patricia’s life will be celebrated with a Funeral Mass on
Thursday, May 23, 2019 at 10 am at St. William Catholic
Church, 531 Common St. in Walled Lake. Friends may visit
the church beginning at 9:30 am.
For those who wish to make a memorial contribution in Pat’s
memory, her family suggests donations to the Capuchin Soup
Kitchen.
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