Carolyn Mary Mazurkiewicz (nee Barscewski) of Newaygo, Michigan, passed away on Monday, December 18, 2023, at the age of 81.

Carolyn was born on May 6, 1942, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She studied at Chic University of Cosmetology and opened a hair salon, The Head Shed, which she ran for seven years while raising her six children. This career suited her, as she had a knack for making people look, feel, and be their best. She later worked as a hairdresser for Meijer, retiring in 1986. In 1985, she married her husband, John Mazurkiewicz, and settled down with him in her final home on Pettit Lake in Newaygo.

An assertive extrovert with a get-up-and-go disposition, a magnetic presence, and infinite energy, Carolyn was a joyful family woman with many close friends, a proud Michigander, and an avid traveler. She was a do-it-yourself fount of wisdom and go-to for advice. You could ask her about anything, from cooking, gardening, landscaping, sewing, painting, fishing, mushroom hunting, all manner of home improvement projects, you name it, and she would have the answer. Surrounded by her beloved pet dogs and plants, she was closely attuned to the natural world and loved life on the lake. Her Polish roots were an integral part of her identity, which she expressed through a passion for Polish cuisine, her inventive style summed up best by her son, Kelly: “Don’t ask her for the recipe, because she doesn’t know how she did it, and she’ll never be able to do it again!”

Above all, Carolyn was a devout Christian and deeply devoted mother and grandmother. Family meant everything to her, and she provided an unwavering sense of safety, stability, and home. With her razor-sharp humor and enormous arsenal of adages, she could make light of most any situation and teach you how to navigate it with a sturdy moral compass. She always told the truth, even when you didn’t want to hear it, and modeled how to live uprightly. She will always be with us in all the ways that count, in her endless warmth, generosity, and love.

She is survived by her children, Carla Fabbro, Mark Cain, Russ Cain, Zeda Fabbro and her daughter-in-law, Mary Cain; her siblings, Joanie Berg, Delores Jayquays, and Mike Wiggers; and her grandchildren, Andrea Fabbro, Mitchell Fabbro, Zachary Osborn, Caitlin Cain, Nikki Cain, Max Cain, Michael Fabbro, Aleena Fabbro, Ryan Cain, Jason Cain, Keith Richards, Dustin Cain, and Stacy Cain.

She is preceded in death by her husband, John Mazurkiewicz, her mother, Florence Wondolowski, her father, John Barscewski, her sons, Calvin Cain and Scott Cain, and her grandson, Brad Overholt.

A Celebration of Life ceremony will take place on Saturday, January 27th, 2024, from 3 PM to 7 PM at West Leonard Banquet Facility (formerly The Knights of Columbus Hall):

1140 Muskegon Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

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