Obituary of Theresa Janet Lipinski
Theresa Janet Burtka was born on October 3, 1939 in Wyandotte, Michigan. She was one of four children of the late Walter Burtka and the late Genevieve (Bialy) Burtka. Theresa would attend and graduate from Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School, Wyandotte with the class of 1957. It is there that she would meet her high school sweetheart and future husband, Henry Lipinski. Theresa continued her education at the University of Detroit where she obtained her bachelor’s degree.
Theresa and Henry would be joined in marriage on December 29, 1962. The couple was blessed with three sons and raised them in their hometown of Wyandotte. Theresa would take employment with the Wyandotte General Hospital, serving in several capacities prior to her retirement in 2006 as a Medical Technologist.
This power couple often supported the local establishments. They frequented restaurants like Portofino, which was the former Portside, and R.P. McMurphy’s. In the summertime Theresa fancied the Wyandotte Street Art Fair, and attending this event involved yearlong planning so she could scope out the goods and get the much sought-after bargains.
Each Fall Theresa would provide her eager grandchildren the latest Lakeside Collections and Toys ‘R Us catalogs to provide Christmas gift selection ideas. This was just one list of many that Theresa compiled to keep herself on point from grocery items in her pantry to what she would pack for vacation. Some of her most memorable excursions were those taken with brother Joe and Pat Burtka, brother Dan and Debbie Burtka, and sister Diane and Tom Groendyke to Northern Michigan and Florida. She also cherished “adventures” with the grandchildren, many times taking day trips to the petting zoo and Wampler’s Lake, or a weekend trip to Frankenmuth. On occasion pool parties at the condo were relaxing summer retreats for the children and grandchildren. Theresa also devoted much of her time caring for her mother before her passing in 2014.
Theresa could best be described as a warm and kindhearted gal…always smiling, although her son Bill still claims to be grounded for coming home late from The Farewell Dance in 1981. She was known to be a connoisseur of wine, truly enjoying sipping a glass of Chardonnay, pinot grigio, or sauvignon blanc. A devout Catholic, Theresa, would receive her spiritual nourishment by attending weekly Masses at St. Joseph Church within the St. Vincent Pallotti Parish. She was a much beloved catechism instructor at her church as well.
Theresa Janet Lipinski, age 81, of Wyandotte returned to her Lord at 4:40 pm on March 5, 2021 at Detroit Medical Center, Detroit Receiving Hospital. In addition to her parents her passing was preceded by one brother: Dr. Joseph Burtka; and one sister-in-law: Debbie Burtka.
To cherish her memory, she leaves her beloved husband of fifty-eight years: Henry Lipinski; three sons: Bill (Sue) Lipinski of Saline, Bob Lipinski of Athens, Alabama, and Jon (Noël) Lipinski of Wyandotte; one brother: Daniel (Mary) Burtka; one sister: Diane (Tom) Groendyke; one sister-in-law: Patricia Burtka; and eight grandchildren.
Friends may gather on Thursday; March 11, 2021 from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm, with a 6:30 pm Rosary then sharing of stories and memories following, at Molnar Funeral Homes-Nixon Chapel; 2544 Biddle Avenue, Wyandotte, Michigan 48192. She will lie in state from 9:30 am until 10:00 am on Friday, March 12, 2021 at St. Vincent Pallotti Parish, 334 Elm Street, Wyandotte, Michigan 48192. The Mass of the Resurrection will follow at 10:00 am with Father Brendan McCarrick officiating. Arrangements have been entrusted to Merkle Funeral Service, North Monroe; 2442 North Monroe Street, Monroe, Michigan 48162 (734) 384-5185.
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