Alice Marie Kulik

Alice Marie Kulik was born in Detroit on May 4, 1928, the third of five children of John Smilnak and Elizabeth (Bednar) Smilnak. She grew up in a home that her father built near Van Dyke and Eight Mile Road in Warren. She graduated from Center Line’s Busch High School in 1946 and afterwards worked briefly at Crowley’s department store followed by Detroit Edison. Alice met Theodore J. Kulik at a dance at the Vanity Ballroom on Detroit’s east side, and they married on October 15, 1949 at St. Nicholas Greek (Byzantine) Catholic Church on East Grand Boulevard. Ted was a Detroit Police officer, and Alice raised the couple’s six children in their home on Alcoy in northeast Detroit. She was very active in St. Raymond’s Parish, where all of her children went to grade school, serving as president of the Altar Society. Alice’s children and grandchildren brought her great joy. A phone call or visit with Alice always included updates on the various accomplishments of her grandchildren. She attended every event of theirs she was able to. She loved having her grandchildren over for “Camp Grandma” sleepovers where she would put a coloring book and crayons next to each sleeping child so they could keep themselves busy and not disturb others if they woke early. She established many family traditions which were very important to her. The yearly Pumpkin Patch day was a favorite of hers; a full day that included a trip to the pumpkin patch followed by lunch and painting the acquired pumpkins at her house. Her FAVORITE hobby was bowling which she took up at a young age and bowled through most of her life, remaining competitive and participating in bowling leagues (sometimes two at a time) well into her eighties. Even though mechanized pin setters were already commonplace by the 1940s, she recalled visiting an alley that still used “pin boys” to quickly reset the pins for bowlers. While she enjoyed participating in leagues, running the “pickle barrel” jackpot in one, family bowling parties brought her the most joy. She finished her bowling career where it began in the Greek Catholic Union (GCU) Bowling League. She loved going “all out” to decorate for holidays – decorations adorned EVERY room. She was very proud of her St. Nicholas collection – a connection to her Slovak heritage. She loved to send greeting cards to friends and family for any occasion she could think of. She also enjoyed shopping garage and used book sales. Alice had very large family which included her six children and their families: Karen Kulik, her husband Mike Bukowski, and their children Arthur and Allison (Nick Kadlec) Kenneth Kulik, his wife Judi and their children Annie and Michael John Kulik, his wife Patricia, and their children Alexander, Janice (Mike Duker) and Gregory Raymond Kulik, his wife Julie and their children Kelly and Adam Mary Kulik and her husband Dean McKaig Paul Kulik, his wife Sherry and their children Erin and Austin and the late Ashleigh, Emily, and Jack Her siblings were: The late Joseph Smilnak and his late wife Marilyn The late Irene Zacharzewski and her late husband Joseph John Smilnak and his wife Beatrice Elizabeth Moncher and her husband James Other relatives included: Her late brother-in-law Frank and his late wife Jean And MANY nieces and nephews Visitation Thursday 3-9 p.m. with a 7 p.m. Rosary at the Wasik Funeral Home 49150 Schoenherr Road (N of 22 Mile Road). Instate Friday 9:30 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. Funeral Mass at St. John Vianney Catholic Church 54045 Schoenherr Road.Luncheon immediately following in St. John Vianney parish hall. Interment Great Lakes National Cemetery Monday August 8th at 1:30 p.m. Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.wasikfuneralhome.com.

Alice Marie Kulik

May 4, 1928 - July 28, 2016