Obituary

Tressie (Lena, Granny) Blinkiewicz passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Thursday, June 29, 2023 at Celebration Villa-Chippewa.

A daughter of the late Nean and Nell Miller, she was born in Birmingham, Alabama on May 9, 1927.  She met the love of her life, Raymond Blinkiezicz at the USO in Fort McClallan- Anniston, Alabama, after she lied about her age to become a USO Hostess!  After World War II ended, she brought her southern charm, wit, and red-headed sass, along with her famous sweet tea, to Beaver Falls.  They later moved to Darlington, where they raised their five children.  Working in various restaurants, she was also a quilter, sewer, and crocheter.  If you visited her house, you usually left with one (or ten) of her crocheted “dish rags”.  She had been a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church (now St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church- St. Monica’s Parish), where she often helped make their homemade pierogis. At family gatherings, in the midst of a hot poker game or a game of L-R-C, Granny would look at the chaos and say “I caused this” and laugh.

Surviving are her children, Kathy Shumaker, Marian “Mert” Horner, Tom and Cis Blinkiewicz, and Richard “Dick” Blinkiewicz and Jennie Yost; her grandchildren, Jennifer Gengarella, Bob Wirks, Ron and Chrissy Shumaker, Jason and Trish Blinkiewicz, Jody Blinkiewicz and Jeff Dilimone, and Cory and Shay Blinkiewicz; her 14 great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Ethan, Sean, Dylan, Jadyn, Zachary, Madison, Haley, Wyatt, Rory, Elijah, Spencer, Kallie and Easton; numerous nieces and nephews; numerous great-nieces and great-nephews; and a very special friend, Cathy Dolan.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Harry Blinkiewicz; a granddaughter, Julie Wirks Masony; and a grandson, Thomas James “TJ” Wirks.  Heaven just got a lot louder!!!!

Friends will be received on Wednesday, July 5^th from 11am until the time of a blessing service at 1pm in the GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME- 117 Blackhawk Rd., Chippewa Twp. Fr. Kim Schreck will officiate.

She will be interred next to her husband and son in St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Cemetery.

The family would like to send a special thank you to the staff of Celebration Villa and Gateway Hospice for the love and care they extended to our Granny for the past several months.  We cannot thank you enough!