Henry Widelski
Our grandfather Henry Francis Widelski was born 19 May 1915 in Chicago to parents Xavier and Rose (Lazar) Widelski. He had six siblings and likely grew up in close quarters with his big family in the heart of South Chicago. The family lived among the the tightly-knit Polish-American communities as Henry’s father immigrated from Poland in 1904 and his mother’s parents were also of Polish origin. Henry’s maternal grandfather Jacob Lazar and uncle John P. Lazar lived with the family for some time, totaling 10-11 bodies under one roof for several years! Henry’s father owned and ran a bakery in Chicago, according to census data.
Around the age of 15, Henry and his family left the crowded city and moved to Michigan City, Indiana, right on the shores of Lake Michigan. Henry’s dad opened up his own bakery in town and most of the siblings worked there in some capacity. Although we found a record of Henry attending Elston High School in Michigan City as a freshman, there is no record of him continuing his education there, so he either transferred schools or started working at the age of 16.
Nettie Saturday
Our grandmother Anastasia (Nettie) Clara Saturday was born 13 August 1913 in Michigan City, Indiana to parents Joseph and Mary (Zaborek) Saturday. Around 1925, Nettie’s father changed the family surname from Sobocinski to Saturday (Saturday translates to sobota in Polish), although it remains unclear why he made this change. Nettie’s parents immigrated in approximately 1893 from either the German- or Prussian-controlled area of Poland (see Joseph and Mary’s narrative for further details).
Nettie grew up in Michigan City, attending school up until the eighth grade, according to her death certificate, although city directory data indicates she was a student in 1929, suggesting she attended high school. Nettie grew up in a very large family, with at least TEN siblings!!! Her maternal grandfather (our 2nd-great-grandfather), Martin Zaborek, also lived with the family during her youth. Unfortunately, tragedy struck the family when Nettie’s father Joseph died suddenly from pulmanory tuberculosis in 1927, leaving his large family to support themselves. Probably to help earn money for the family, Nettie worked as a machine operator in a shirt factory as of 1930.
Marriage and early jobs
Both in the working world at a relatively young age, Nettie and Henry possibly met in one of the local social or religious Polish clubs in the area. During this time, Polish communities established ethnic societies and organizations for fraternal, political, social and religious purposes. The South Bend Tribune estimated at least ninety Polish organizations and societies existed in South Bend, Indiana in the 1930s! To read more about these groups, use this link.
On 26 June 1937, Henry and Nettie married in Michigan City and stayed there for the next ten years. After the wedding, Henry worked at Royal Metal Manufacturing Company for several years and also worked at his father’s bakery. Around 1945, Henry worked in the city as a fireman, and according to local press on 19 December 1945 he was injured in the line of duty when two boxcars derailed in a head-on collision of two Michigan Central freight trains. Fortunately, Henry only suffered cuts and bruises.
The family moves to Michigan, just over the border
In 1952, Henry and Nettie moved to Niles, Michigan, which is 11 miles north of South Bend, Indiana. Before the move, Nettie and Henry had two children in Indiana, Henry (born 1943) and our mother Rose Mary (born 1947). The youngest sibling, Anne Marie was born in Niles in 1952.
Between at least 1952 and 1960, the family lived at 415 Grand St. in Niles and Henry worked as a local fireman. The children attended high school in South Bend, Indiana at St. Josephs High school.
According to local press, Henry got into some trouble with the law in 1955. He was accused of stealing merchandise worth $4 from the Kroger Supermarket. Police caught him and charged him with petit larceny. Eventually, city court dismissed the charges and Henry was placed on “unofficial probation for three months.” This appears to be Henry’s only infraction, so perhaps he learned his lesson!
5 May 1966
Tragically, Henry died suddenly at the age of 51 in his home on 4 May 1966. Nettie found him in the garage when she returned home from work. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Niles.
Following Henry’s death, Nettie settled in Mishawaka, Indiana and for the next ten years worked in Goldblatt’s Department Store, selling candy and cookies. She was known locally as the “candy and cookie lady!” According to Nettie’s obituary, she was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, and took her faith very seriously, praying numerous times throughout each day.
Nettie died 15 June 2003 in Miller’s Merry Manor, Makarusa, Indiana where she had resided for a short time. She is buried in Calvary Cemetery with Henry.
18 June 2003
Clare Family History 