Krystyna Caldwell

Krystyna (Krysia) Caldwell of Sterling Heights, MI, age 73 died on Thursday, January 30th at 1:30pm. She is survived by her children Steve, Jeff (Leslie), Tina (Jason) and David (Ida) and four grandchildren Liam, Dillon, Levi and Jesse. She is preceded in death by her parents Helen and Marion Marczewski. Krysia immigrated to the United States with her parents and two siblings, Stephan (Rita) and Ela (Ed) in the 1960s from Łagow Poland. The family's first home was in Detroit where they welcomed a fourth child, Krysia’s youngest brother, Edward (Sandra). Krysia attended Cooley High School where she met and later married the father of her children, Peter (Tammy). Krysia set down roots with her young family in Sterling Heights, MI in 1977. After moving away for a brief time, in 2000 Krysia met Walter Gansior and later moved into his home in Sterling Heights where they lived happily for the remainder of her life. Krysia would often say that her children and grandchildren were the greatest loves of her life. She reserved a special kind of deep, pure love just for them—a love filled with kindness. Her happiest moments were spent among family, friends, and her grandchildren. She never missed a gathering and did everything she could to keep the family connected—whether it was staying in touch with relatives in Poland, never missing a birthday or making a yearly trek to Camp Dearborn. She was particularly joyful when spending time with her grandchildren and was very fortunate to spend two years in San Francisco as a caregiver to Liam and Dillon. She often reflected on that special time in her life and cherished the days filled with unique and memorable activities. She loved her “food walks” with baby Dillon to places like Star Donut for Apple Fritters, Papa Beard for Puff Pastries, or her favorite hole-in-the-wall for bargain-priced Chinese noodles. She especially enjoyed the daily sing-alongs and kid activities at various libraries and community centers around town. Later, when Krysia was back in Michigan, she was thrilled to welcome her 3rd and 4th grandsons Levi and Jesse. Krysia was a dutiful and loving grandmother and caregiver to both grandsons throughout the 13 and 11 years of their young lives. They often spent time at Krysia’s house watching movies, helping her with tech issues on her phone, planting dozens of flowers around her house and even letting them tag along when she went bowling at Five Star Lanes, where she won the bowling league’s 50/50 jackpot on an unusually regular basis. She especially loved watching horror movies with Jesse in the dark and taught Levi how to sew and garden. Krysia never missed a school function or sporting event for her grandsons - she spent many hours on the sidelines of soccer fields, in the stands at football fields cheering on the boys in all kinds of weather. Even if it was freezing cold and rainy, she showed up and never complained, she was always the happiest grandma in the stands. From the time Levi and Jesse started preschool until this past fall, she never missed the first day of school. She would arrive in the wee hours of the morning to take photos with the boys and walk them to their school doors, a sweet memory the boys will always remember. On January 30th, Krysia was found unresponsive in her home due to cardiac arrest. She passed away peacefully at the hospital, surrounded by her loving children, partner in life, Walter Gansior, son in law, Jason Catron and co-grandmother Helen Catron. Everyone felt the irony in the hospital that day. The woman who had the biggest and most loving heart ultimately reached her end by that very same heart. We will all miss her deeply and forever. The mark she has made on our lives will endure eternity. Funeral Arrangements: Thursday, February 6th Visitation from 3pm - 8pm Memorial Service and Eulogy begins at 6:30pm Mandziuk & Son Funeral Home Address: 3801 18 Mile Road, Sterling heights, MI 48314 Phone: 586-997-3838 The family has requested in lieu of flowers, that family and friends make a donation in Krystyna’s name to the American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/get-involved/ways-to-give?form=FUNQCSERKQD

Krystyna Caldwell

June 29, 1951 - January 30, 2025