Helen Gates

September 16, 1927 - January 25, 2021

It is with great sadness that our mother, Helen Moraz (Moros) Wojtowicz Gates passed peacefully on January 25, 2021 at the age of 93. Helen was born on September 16, 1927 in Detroit, Michigan. She was the 4th child of five siblings born to their parents Kastany Constantine Moraz (Moros) and Honorata Perczak Moraz (Moros) both from Poland. Helen graduated from Detroit’s Pershing High School on June 21, 1946. She married Edward J. Wojtowicz-Gates on April 16, 1948 in Detroit, Michigan. Together they shared five (5) children: Linda (Keith McMackin); Cynthia (James Wals); Rebecca Rusak; Gloria (Morris DePoorter) and their son, Edward W. Gates. Our parents were blessed with nine (9) grandchildren Nicole Wilinski and Austin McMackin (Linda McMackin); Rachelle Bietler and Renee Brown (Cynthia Wals); Zachary Rusak and Jessica Randazzo (Rebecca Rusak); and Heather DePoorter, Helenea Gramman, and Morris DePoorter (Gloria DePoorter) and thirteen (13) great-grandchildren, Brendan, Isabel, Sabrina (Karl and Nicole Wilinski); Mari and Milo (Helineh and Austin McMackin); Abigail and Allison (Rachelle Bietler); Caiden and Madden (Renee Brown); Hunter and Baby Wyatt (Alfonso and Jessica Randazzo); Vaughn and Lira (Greg and Helenea Gramman). Edward and Helen shared 66 years of marriage until our father, Edward, passed away on August 13, 2014. From 1969 to 1994, Helen was employed with the Lamphere School District (John Page Middle School) in Madison Heights, Michigan retiring after 25 years of service. Helen loved her job working in the school’s cafeteria. During her last 10 years at John Page, Helen created a catering menu and alternative meals and served many different ethnic meals once per month to the delight of the staff and students. Her most famous meals were “stuffed cabbage rolls” known in the Polish language as “Goumpkies” and cabbage soup. After retirement Helen became involved in the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Organization. She belonged to the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary. Religion was important to Helen. Helen and Edward were members of St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Community in Madison Heights for over 52 years. Helen also enjoyed reading. She often shared that she always wanted to be a librarian. Daily, Helen read the Detroit papers and thousands of books over the years. She was a very devoted Detroit sports fan and never lost faith in the Detroit Lions, Tigers or Red Wings. Our mother, Helen, was a gentle and kind woman who loved her family unconditionally. She enjoyed her grandchildren and always found time to play with them when they visited. Helen had a passion for cooking. There was always room for our growing family at her table. Growing up, our home was the welcome mat for aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews who needed a safe harbor and any animal who needed a home. Helen was compassionate and caring, always trying to be all things to everyone. Helen was predeceased by her husband, Edward, her parents, her siblings Wanda, Mary, Loretta and bother Chester along with several sisters-in-law, brothers- in- law, nephews and nieces. They will welcome her to her new home…Heaven. After the death of her husband, Helen rapidly declined to dementia, the Alzheimer type. During her illness she was cared for by the devoted staff of Genesis Senior Care, LLC. Our family would like to thank the staff of Genesis’ Butler House in Troy, Michigan for the many years of care they gave to our mother as her health declined. Memorials can be made to the Michigan Humane Society, the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) or the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).