Alexandria "Elsie" Matuszak

Alexandria “Elsie” Matuszak, 86 of Elmira, passed away Friday, April 11, 2025, while vacationing with her daughter and some of her grandchildren in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Born in Elmira on December 27, 1938, she was the daughter of Theodore and Agnes (Boris) Wallick.

Elsie graduated from Gaylord St. Mary High School in 1957 and married the love of her life, Richard Matuszak, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Elmira, Michigan, on July 23, 1960. They spent their life together and raised their family in Elmira. They made it a priority to give their 5 children a Catholic education, sending them all to St. Mary Cathedral School in Gaylord.

Elsie began working in high school as a bookkeeper in Gaylord. She then worked in Lansing at Auto Owners Insurance and in accounting at Boyne Mountain, before beginning her career with the United States Postal Service in the 1970’s. She began at the Gaylord Post Office, later going to Elmira, where she was appointed as Postmaster in 1983. She retired from the Post Office in 1999, after nearly three decades of faithful service.

Elsie was a devout Catholic and a longtime parishioner at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Elmira, where she spent many years as the church organist. She and her husband prayed the Rosary daily for the safekeeping of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In her spare time, Elsie was an avid reader, and she loved to crochet and quilt, making blankets for all of her children and grandchildren. She loved gardening and caring for her many plants and flowers. She also loved to cook, spoiling her family with her famous bean dish (“Kay’s Beans”), her Texas sheet cake, “eggs in a basket,” zucchini bread, and her potato pancakes. She also enjoyed teaching her children to make the Polish dish, Golabki (cabbage rolls). Elsie loved music, sharing her love of the piano with her children and grandchildren. She loved to shop, enjoying her yearly trips to Frankenmuth with her daughters and granddaughters. She also enjoyed her occasional trips to local casinos.

Elsie and her loving husband, Richard, spent 22 winters in Gulf Shores, Alabama, where they made many long-lasting friendships. Their children and grandchildren eagerly awaited their return, as they brought home the many bounties of the south, including pecans, salt water taffy, and shrimp. In her last days, Elsie was able to enjoy one last trip to Gulf Shores, where she visited some of her favorite spots, including the Oyster House, Lamberts, the Gift Horse, and “the Beau.”

Elsie is survived by Richard, her husband of nearly 65 years. Also surviving are her children, Lynne (Steven Glasser) Matuszak of Milford; Mike Matuszak (Diane) of Elmira, Lori (Rob) Herman of Elmira, and Pam (Trevor) Winkel of Elmira; grandchildren, Alex (Witney) Upton, Lindsay (Andy) Bennett, Jacob (Noelle) Spencer, Chase (Elena) Glasser, Gray Glasser, Abbey (Brandon) Matuszak, Wally (Kinsey) Matuszak, Amy (Nick) Belding, Wyatt (Taylor) Matuszak, Kaylee, Jordan, and Josh Herman, Zack and Paige Winkel; great grandchildren, Camden and Waylon, and many nieces and nephews.

Elsie was preceded in death by twin sons, Kevin Dale and Michael Lee Matuszak, a daughter, Michelle Spencer; and grandchildren, Madeline Matuszak and Angela Spencer. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Theodore and Agnes Wallick; her stepfather, Stanley Dzwik; sisters, Clara Marian Brille, Anna Regina Jaruzel, Florence Powers, and Dorothy Sevenski; and brothers Fred Wallick and Bernard Wallick.

The family will visit with friends from 4:00 - 7:00 PM Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at the Gaylord Community Funeral Home where the Rosary will be prayed at 6:30 PM. Visitation will continue beginning at 10:00 AM Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Elmira, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 AM. A luncheon will follow at Elmira Township Hall. Burial will be at St. Thomas Cemetery in the coming weeks.

Those who wish are asked to consider memorial contributions to EWTN Catholic Television, Universal Living Rosary Association of St. Philomena, or Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit. 

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