Dear Family and Friends of Michele-
This is cousin Jeff. I am saddened by the passing of my dear and most outstanding cousin Michele, aka, "MK". My sincere condolences to Danny, Arnie, Renee, Elise, Colette and all the nephews/ nieces Dominic, Audrey, Justine, Christopher, Casey and the rest of extended family and close friends.
I am the youngest surviving 1st cousin of Michele's and her sisters. One of my earliest childhood memories was being a reluctant intolerable 4-year-old ring bearer at her wedding around 1969-70. I was a little monster at the reception, breaking cocktail glasses and kicking an unsuspected adult cousin in the shin for no reason. My dad had to take me home before dinner was served. He should've killed me on the spot. Years later, I realized how intolerable I must have been, but Michele never made me feel worse about it and thankfully, she never reminded me about my bad behavior that day, or brought the subject up ever again. In fact, I think I was the little brother she never had - always kind and very forgiving-always greeted with a big smile. Although Michele could be very intimidating and intense at times, she had a great sense of humor and an infectious laugh as well.
Michele always treated me with kindness and respect. I looked up to her for her leadership as a business person and her pioneering of implementing personal computers into the workplace starting in the early 1980's (when I was in High School) using the first MS-DOS word processor (all-in-one machine) with Bank of the Commonwealth (at her office in Downtown Detroit), and one of the first people I ever knew who integrated desktop computers as part of everyday life with the introduction of Microsoft Windows around 1985. Nobody else knew what a computer was or how to use one other than MK. (Many years later, I'll never forget how thrilled she was when MS "Word" was launched).
I always admired her leadership, knowledge and confidence. She was an excellent teacher and very patient with a young student such as me, who at the time didn't know where the power button was, and a total blank slate when it came to computer hardware and software knowledge.
Since computers were not part of my college experience until after I graduated, I picked her brain for many years following to get one-on-one lessons at her deluxe customized lower level home office in Oak Park, MI. Michele always made time for me, during her busy working evenings, many times on short notice. She would continue to do her work and train me simultaneously at one of her several guest computer stations. I believe she was one of the first "Multi Taskers"-working on open documents, taking business calls, faxing, making coffee, etc., all at the same time!
MK was extremely influential to me and I always looked up to her. Talking about this now, I realized I don't think I thanked her enough for providing me with an excellent foundation in my computer skills that I still use to this day. I'll always remember Her #1 lesson in dealing with spreadsheets and database input was "Garbage In...Garbage Out!" It couldn't be a truer philosophy.
Cousin Michele was very important to me in my early years into my 20's, and I enjoyed a continued friendship for many years after. My return favor for her generosity is still standing forever and now forwarded to Danny. I am truly blessed to have had her in my life.
I'm forever grateful for Michele. She will be missed - but never forgotten.
May God bless her soul and RIP Michele, "MK".
Cousin Jeff Narozny
aka "Jeffrey Charles"
Detroit, MI