Phyllis Jean Zawrotny

Phyllis Jean Zawrotny, 69, passed away on March 30, 2024, with her husband and children by her side. She fought a hard battle with stage 4 breast cancer but passed away peacefully. Forever a warrior and strong woman she is survived by her husband, Frank Zawrotny, her children, Harvey Ray Cornett III (Tracy Cornett), Jessica Marabate, Jeremiah Cornett, and Jacob Cornett (Elizabeth Cornett). She leaves behind her grandchildren that she loved and adored, Ethan Ray Cornett, Abigail Rose Cornett, Charlotte Anne Cornett, Willow Mae Block, Adalyn Elizabeth Kabel, Eliana Brooke Kabel, and Raymond Phillip Hunt. Phyllis is proceeded in death by her parents, Roland Joseph Schemers Sr. and Phyllis Jean Schemers, her brother, Kevin Dale Schemers, her sister, Catherine “Kay” Ann Schemers-Wilcoxson (Joseph George Wilcoxson), and her daughter, Autumn Jean Cornett. She is survived by her brothers, Roland Joseph Schemers (Betty Schemers), and Donald Arthur Schemers (Kathy Foley-Schemers). Phyllis grew up in Union Lake in a home that her late father, Roland Joseph Schemers Sr. built for her late mother, Phyllis Jean Schemers, and children. She was the youngest of 4 children. There, she lived a few blocks away from the beach and in her teenage years would go to the beach, lay in the sun, and play her AM-FM radio. In the winter months, she liked to go to the canal and ice skate. Phyllis, known more so as Fij then, met her lifelong best friend, Beth Simonson-Putnam “Buffy” living in Union Lake and after graduating from Walled Lake Central in 1972 moved down to Virginia together. Her love of beach life is something that stayed with her throughout her life and some of her favorite destinations to travel with her husband was Sand Key Beach in Clearwater, Florida and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She also enjoyed cruises later in life and traveled to the Bahamas and visited many of the islands surrounding there and went on an Alaskan cruise. Phyllis also made her way over to the United Kingdom during the last year of her life and road tripped from London, England to Aberdeen, Scotland, where her grandmother was born and raised. She sat in a little restaurant converted from a bus and was able to stare out at the North Sea at Aberdeen Beach and reflected on how her grandmother would have done the same. Phyllis was a strong woman, who broke away from the standard path, she did not want a desk job and found a career with Emhart in shipping and receiving and worked there for 37 years. She broke the mold and was a rebel by nature but had a strong moral compass. Always showing that love and compassion would win in all battles. Even on her death bed she said it was not in her nature to complain. February of 1983, she had her first child and proceeded to have four more. She is remembered fondly by them for her strength, resilience, her even keeled and naturally caring nature, and her laugh. Her greatest heartbreak in life was the passing and loss of her daughter, Autumn Jean Cornett. Some of her cherished memories of her children growing up were going to the Armada Fair, the summertime fun, sports, and having all the aunts, uncles, and cousins over. Her family was everything to her. She met her husband and person in life, Frank Zawrotny, in 1999. Their first date was a Cher concert. They were married in 2000 at Frank’s sisters house near Stony Creek in Michigan. Their song was With Arms Wide Open by Creed, and they honeymooned at Disney and Clearwater, Florida. The two resided in Chesterfield, Michigan and remained inseparable until her passing in 2024. The family greatly appreciates everyone’s kind words and memories that have been shared and will be hosting a celebration of life on July 5th, 2024, at Brandenburg Park in Chesterfield, Michigan. Further information is provided below, and we would love to see everyone there. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for contributions for her burial and headstone. She will be buried with her daughter at Richmond Cemetery. We also ask that you contribute by sharing your favorite memories of Phyllis on our memorial website. Celebration of Life: July 5, 2024 Brandenburg Park 50050 Jefferson Ave New Baltimore, Mi 48047 12pm-7pm

Phyllis Jean Zawrotny

September 3, 1954 - March 30, 2024