Annette K. Wade

Annette Wade was an independent woman, who lived an amazing and sometimes difficult life. She was a wonderful mother, who taught us all the importance of family, a woman who taught us all to cherish our children above all else. She lived her life by that credo as well as hard work, perseverance, dedication and honesty, and it is her shining example, and her warm love, that we remember most today.

Annette was born April 5, 1911, on a warm spring Wednesday in Detroit , the third child of five born to Peter and Maria Kusza. Her parents emigrated together from Austria on the SS Kronprinz Wilheim departing Germany arriving at Ellis Island on July 19, 1904, and were married in Chicago shortly thereafter. The Kuszas were soon blessed with five children, son Barney, daughters Martha and Annette, and sons Stanley ("Carl") and Thaddeus ("Ted"), the baby of the family. Annette's father began working at Ford Motor Company, earning just a dollar a day, while her mother raised the children. But sadly, her mother died in 1914, when Annette was just three, and since her father couldn't care for five children by himself, he sent the children to orphanages. The girls went to the Felician Sisters Home for Orphans in Detroit, while the boys were sent to the St. Joseph Home for boys in Jackson .

Annette learned much at the orphanage, where she found faith, strength, and resolve. She received her first communion and confirmation there in 1917, and remained a devout and lifelong Catholic. At the orphanage she spent much of her free time playing outside, but only after she did her studies and share of the chores. She fondly remembered the special treat of fresh oranges the children received during the Christmas season.

Each child was required to leave the orphanage when they turned the "adult" age of 15, so when her older sister Martha became of age, Annette went with her at the age of 13. Eventually, all the children were reunited with their father, returning home to live with him and begin their working lives. Annette began her first job at a bakery, where Martha also worked.

Annette took a job as a live-in nanny for a family in Brighton, getting her out of the house and on her own for the first time. She lived with this family, caring for their children and even traveled with them from time to time.

Annette hired in as a factory worker with Turnsteds, a division of General Motors, where she met William Wade, who worked in the company's accounting department. The two fell in love, and were married on December 27, 1935, on a cold Friday in Detroit . The couple then moved into a little apartment on Continental Street in Detroit , where they began to start their family. On November 10, 1936, the Wades were blessed with their first child, daughter Rita, while son William ("Bill") was born 3 ½ years later, on April 6, 1940. Later that year the couple bought their first home, on Snowden Avenue in the northwest corner of Detroit , to meet the needs of their growing family.

But in 1943, the couple separated, and Annette moved with the children to Cincinnati, to live with her sister Martha and Martha's husband Martin. In those lean days, caught in the grip of World War II, women were needed in the workforce more than ever, and Annette soon found a job working for Wrights Aeronautical.

She eventually got back on solid footing, and moved out of her sister's home and into an apartment on Auburn Avenue, where she continued to work and raise her children, with some help from Martha and her longtime friend, Mildred Reckel.

But when Martha and Martin moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, Annette and her children followed suit, settling in Detroit in 1948. Annette lived with her children in the Herman Gardens Housing Project, and took a job working for Russek's Department Store, and later Crowley 's Department Store.

Annette always had to work very hard to provide for her family as a single mom, spending as much time with her children as possible, forming many fond memories. Annette loved to take the kids to Bob-Lo Island, and to outdoor concerts at the band shell on Woodward Avenue and Eight Mile. More than anything, she loved to give her children the things she missed out on in her childhood.

During those years Annette diligently continued her studies, and received her high school equivalency diploma, an accomplishment of which she was very proud while balancing work and family duties.

In 1950, Annette began working at the National Bank of Detroit, a job she held for over 20 years, retiring at the age of 62. It was a demanding job, requiring her to move to numerous branches of the bank over the years, causing her to often have long commutes and travel times. The bank job even required her to relocate her home a few times, after Rita had grown, and she and William moved wherever she was needed, but they always kept in touch with her friends.

After she retired, Annette moved to Ann Arbor and finally began reaping the rewards of all her hard work, enjoying a life she so richly deserved with her new friends at Parkway Meadows. During her retirement, she enjoyed traveling, oil painting (which became a passion of hers, even taking lessons at Domino Farms), as well as tatting and lacework on pillows and handkerchiefs, reading and listening to classical music. And while she had just played the game a few times as a young woman, Annette had a passion for golf, and watched it on television whenever she had a chance.

But of course, her favorite pastime was spending time with her family, which had grown so wonderfully full. Annette was blessed to have Rita and her husband Angelo Adamo, William and his wife Yvonne, four wonderful grandchildren in Julie (Sal) Mignano, Linda (Steven) Chicarella, Joseph (Leanne) Wade and Annmarie (David) Hrabosky. She also was blessed with 10 great-grandchildren: Christina and Anthony Mignano, Lindsey and Michael Chicarella, Joshua, Mathew, Hope and Erin Wade and Paul and Jay Hrabosky.

During her later years at the bank Annette would often spend her annual two-week vacation with Rita, who had moved to New York, and they took many wonderful side trips. She continued this practice during many of her retirement years. She, Rita and Angelo even spent three weeks together in Italy in 1960, one of her fondest memories.

Annette was so blessed to have her son William and his wife Yvonne here with her in Ann Arbor, assuring she always had family with her especially during the holidays and special occasions. She went on many family trips throughout Michigan and the mid-western states, a Caribbean cruise and vacations in the Upper Peninsula .

To Annette, family was always the most important thing, the most precious gift she could be given. She cherished her family with all her heart, and taught them to cherish it the same. Her lessons, and her love, live on in the hearts of all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.

Annette K. Wade of Ann Arbor, MI, age 94, died on Saturday, January 14, 2006 at Arbor Hospice Residence in Ann Arbor. She was born on April 5, 1911 in Detroit, MI the third of five children born to Peter and Maria Kusza, all of whom preceded her in death. Annette was a lifelong Catholic, a true passion of hers was oil painting, she was an avid reader, loved classical music and was a big golf fan. Annette was employed by National Bank of Detroit where she retired after over 20 years of service. Survivors include her daughter Rita (Angelo) Adamo, her son William "Bill" (Yvonne) Wade, four grand children and ten great grandchildren all of whom she truly loved and enjoyed. Annette's family will receive friends at the Nie Lifestory Funeral Home, 2400 Carpenter Rd. , on Friday, January 20, 2006 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. with a rosary service held at 7:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 21st at Christ The King Catholic Church, 4000 Ave Maria Drive, Ann Arbor, 48105. Rev. Fr. Ed Fride officiating. Burial will follow at St. Thomas Cemetery in Ann Arbor. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in her memory may be made to the Christ the King Capital Campaign at the address above. To read Annette's lifestory, sign the guestbook or to leave a memory, please visit her personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com.