Family, friends gather to celebrate centenarian’s birthday

WARREN — Katerina “Katherine” Spiewak is known as a hardworking woman who makes friends easily and makes it a point not to argue with others.

She also spends a lot of time volunteering at bingo in the Ukrainian Village Apartments where she resides.

Those attributes just might be the reasons for her longevity.

On Aug. 16, about 60 family members and friends gathered at the complex to celebrate Spiewak’s 100th birthday. Her son, Bo Spiewak, and Ukrainian Village staff members hosted the surprise birthday party.

When the birthday girl arrived in the complex multipurpose room, the crowd sang “Happy Birthday.” Emotions took over as Spiewak was greeted with hugs, cards, gifts and flowers. Friend and fellow resident Rosemary Dyell put a sash that read “100 and fabulous” around Spiewak and a princess crown on her head.

“She is the best lady I’ve ever met. She tries to be friends with everybody,” Dyell said. “She’s like my mother that passed away. My mother would be proud of her for taking care of her.”

Also in attendance were Spiewak’s daughter-in-law, Elaine, and niece, Diane Kurylo. Some of Spiewak’s three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren made the celebration as well. The lunch included pizza, salad, cake and lemonade. As the party continued, a resident recited a reading to Spiewak in the Ukrainian language, which Kurylo translated for the Warren Weekly.

“May you have good health. May you have another 50 years. Be happy and be lucky around your friends,” Kurylo said. “In this house we’re all family.”

Spiewak — wearing a hand-embroidered Ukrainian blouse — was completely surprised by the birthday party.

“I didn’t expect it,” the centenarian said, tearing up.

“This is all for you,” Kurylo said. “It honors you.”

Spiewak’s story begins in 1924. She was born Katerina Polenyk in Ukraine and is 100% Ukrainian. When World War II broke out, Spiewak, then 17, moved to Germany and found a job “working for a lady.”

“She had a restaurant and was very good to me,” Spiewak said. “Some people had it tough in Germany, but I had a good life.”

According to the family’s history, Spiewak’s hometown was occupied during the war. When Germany invaded, the Ukrainians and the Poles were separated.

“The house that my aunt lived in was given to Poles. My aunt was further separated from her parents,” Kurylo said. “They were taken to Ternopil, Ukraine, while Katerina was taken by train to Berlin to work.”

Spiewak remembers the “destruction” of the war.

“People were all over,” she said. “War don’t bring nothing but tragedy.”

The young woman met her husband Mykola, also Ukrainian, in Berlin. They were married and had a son, Bo. When the conflict ended, the family relocated to an internment camp. Eventually, a sponsor picked them to bring them to America in 1950. She remembers crowds of people going through Ellis Island.

“When I came to Detroit we had no job, no nothing,” Spiewak said.

Mykola died 31 years ago. For many years, Spiewak worked on her family’s farm in Yale.

“She lived there most of her life,” Kurylo said. “She’s the most hardworking person and it’s wonderful to see the payoff. She’s always been kind and has a lot of friends no matter where she goes.”

Christine Burns, Lori Burns and Mackenzie Burns drove from Yale for the birthday party. Christine is Lori’s sister-in-law and Mackenzie is Lori’s daughter. Christine’s mother, Joann, was very good friends with Spiewak. The pair often went to church together and out to eat. A running joke was the times Spiewak took off to eat at the bar with Christine’s parents while her son would be looking for her.

“It’s awesome,” Christine said of her turning 100. “She has so many stories to tell. She’s had so many different experiences in her life.”

Lori values the wisdom Spiewak has shared over the years. Another aspect that always stood out for Lori was Spiewak’s deep faith in the Lord and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The families were so close that Spiewak often attended birthday parties for the Burns kids.

“It was great,” Mackenzie said. “We loved her. We’d call her Grandma.”

Ukrainian Village Apartments Community Manager Juanita Daniels thanked all the guests for attending the party.

“That is truly appreciated that you came to honor Katherine,” she said. “Katherine is 100 years old. When they first told me that, I didn’t believe it. Her mind is as sharp as a tack.”

As the birthday cake was cut, Daniels finished her speech reminding Spiewak, “We love you and appreciate you.”