Florine Bernice Skorczewski

FLORINE BERNICE SKORCZEWSKI, age 94, of Waseca, died peacefully on Tuesday morning, June 16, 2020 at home with her family by her side.

Florine Skorczewski was born on October 5, 1925, in Hallock, Minnesota to Joseph and Julia (Vunek) Olsonawski. She grew up on the family farm near Hallock with eight brothers and five sisters. As a child Florine and her sister Mary helped their mother tend to household duties while her brothers helped their father on the farm. She attended Kittson County Country School except for Monday’s when she would stay home to help her mother with laundry. Florine recalled having to share with her sisters one Sunday dress for Mass. When Florine was 16, she left the farm to live with her sister, Francis, who had heard of work at the egg plant near Marshall. It was in Marshall where she met her husband, Ted Skorczewski, while he was hauling water into a local restaurant, they later met up at a dance a week later. On Easter Sunday, Florine and Ted were engaged, and on February 7, 1944, they were united in Holy Matrimony at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Lancaster. Together they moved to Ivanhoe where they started their family while living on Ted’s family dairy farm. This union was blessed with eight children, with one set of twins. Florine and Ted shared 62 years of marriage before Ted passed away on June 4, 2006.

In the 1970’s, Ted quit farming due to health reasons which led Florine and Ted to move their family to Waseca. Florine was a worker! Whether it was on the farm, in her large garden, canning produce, or working at E.F. Johnson Company and the Senior Center in Waseca. Most notably her family recalls the hard work she did to provide for her family.

Florine was a dedicated mother, always baking breads, pies, cinnamon and bismark rolls. She was famous for her pierogi and cabbage rolls she would make at Christmas. Florine loved to dance. She and Ted would travel around to see “Duane’s Little Band” and in her later years she enjoyed listening to and watching “The Band Wagon” on channel 12. Florine was a devout Catholic throughout her life as she would say the rosary daily. She was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca. Florine had a special devotion to Mother Thrice Admiral (Queen and Victoress of Schoenstatt). Blessed be her memory.

Florine is survived by her children: Bob (Pat) Skorczewski of Shakopee, Judy Pipke of Waseca, Janice (Jim) Lacek of Rapid City, SD, Shirley Skorczewski of Waseca, Lorie (Scott) Spear of Waseca and Karen (Mike) Fell of Waseca; 14 grandchildren; 28 great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; sisters: Leona Chalturnuk and Alice Skorczewski; many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.

Preceded in death by her parents; husband; sons, Jerry and Gordon; grandchildren: Kim, Kenny and SchVonne; brothers: Bill, Casmir, Andy, John, Anton, Frank, Joe and Adam; sisters: Mary Reese, Ann Person, and Frances Lozenski; son-in-law, Jerry Pipke.

Visitaiton will be from 2-5 PM on Sunday, June 21, 2020 with a Parish Prayer Service beginning at 5 PM all at the STATE STREET CHAPEL of Dennis Funeral & Cremation Services in Waseca. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 AM on Monday, June 22, 2020 at St. John Cantius Catholic Church in Wilno, Minnesota with Fr. Gregory Leif as Celebrant. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.