Lydia Regina (Kociuba) Nowak

Lydia Regina Nowak, 95 of Kalamazoo, entered eternal rest with her Lord and Savior on July 10, 2023.

Lydia was born to Regina and Valentine Kociuba in Detroit where she grew up with her three older brothers; Frank, Ted, and Gene. There, she graduated from St. Hedwig High School. In 1949 she married Richard Nowak and eventually settled in Dearborn Michigan. They were together until Richard’s passing in 2017.

A devoted mother, she and Richard raised two children, Leslie and Ronald. Her greatest joy in life was her family, especially the children. Her grandchildren, nieces, and nephews along with their children always held a special place in her heart. Recently she was blessed with her first great grandchild. She also loved her extended family. Her and Richard belonged to the Pals & Gals social club. These were lifelong friends and she looked upon their children as family even being Godmother to some.

Lydia loved her work and the friends she made at Ford Motor. She stayed in contact with them even after retirement. To this day some of her closest friends came from her time at Ford.

A devout Catholic Lydia’s faith guided her life. She was always active in the church whether it was St Albert’s in Dearborn Heights where she was a founding member or Divine Child in Dearborn. After moving to Portage in 2016, she joined St Catherine’s where she met the most wonderful group of men and women who became the fabric of her social life and supported her through Richard’s passing.

Lydia is survived by her children Leslie (Todd) Bierman and Ron (Julie) Nowak; grandchildren Katelyn Bierman, Tara (Barry) Toornman, Samantha (Robert) Cowing, Madison (Kevin) Nowak, and Sydney Nowak; great-granddaughter Eliana; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Richard, granddaughter Erica, and her brothers.

Funeral services will be held at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church on Thursday, July 13, 2023. The family invites friends to visit between 10:00 am and 11:00 am and a funeral mass will begin at 11:00 with a lunch to follow. Interment will take place at Our Lady of Hope Cemetery in Brownstown, MI on Friday, July 14, 2023, with a committal service in the John Paul Mausoleum at 11:00 am; she will be laid to rest with her beloved husband and next to her brothers and sisters-in-law, whom she loved so much. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in honor of Lydia to the Kalamazoo Animal Rescue Project. Please visit Lydia’s personalized webpage to share memories and leave condolences with her family at http://www.langelands.com