Irene Bankiewicz | June 1, 1923 – September 16, 2026

Irene Bankiewicz, 103, of Wyandotte, Michigan, passed away on September 16, 2026.

Born June 1, 1923, in Wyandotte, Irene was welcomed into the world by her parents, Frank and Bernice Sekmistrz. She would spend her life in the community that shaped her, growing into a strong-willed woman who knew her own mind and was never shy about speaking it – a quality her family came to know well and love deeply.

Faith was the steady thread running through Irene’s long life. A faithful member of St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church in Wyandotte, she attended Mass weekly without fail. She especially looked forward to the annual church festivals, where faith and fellowship came together in the way she loved best – surrounded by neighbors, familiar faces, and the sounds of a parish celebrating together.

Irene found employment with General Motors, where she worked in production for 32 years. She was a dependable and hardworking woman who took pride in the work she did and in the security it provided for her family.

It was Stanley “Dewey” Bankiewicz who captured her heart, and the two were wed. Their union was blessed with a daughter, and together they built a life filled with love and partnership that spanned 38 years before Dewey’s passing in 1986. Irene carried him with her for all the decades that followed.

Anyone who knew Irene knew she could fairly be called a shopaholic. She had a gift for discovering unique finds on QVC and delighted in choosing practical gifts for her family – presents that were always useful, always thoughtful. Her basement became something of a little store in its own right, stocked with the treasures she had gathered over the years. She kept her mind sharp with word searches, and she truly loved a good game of Bingo or a trip to the casino, most often in the happy company of her sister-in-law.

Above all, Irene was a true grandma. She always had candy on hand for her grandchildren, and she knew that the small, reliable gestures are the ones children remember for a lifetime.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Bernice Sekmistrz; her siblings, Marion “Mike” Sekmistrz, John Sekmistrz, and Stanley “Stas” Sekmistrz; and her loving husband, Stanley “Dewey” Bankiewicz.

She leaves to cherish her memory her beloved daughter, Phyllis (Jim) Macek; her grandchildren, Kevin Macek and Laura (Marc) Macek-Haire; and her great-granddaughter, Briar Cook.

A life of 103 years, lived with faith, strength, and a generous heart – Irene will be deeply missed by all who loved her.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen