“And he loved beauty, and you could see the result of that all around St. Colman Parish,” said Fr. Wittkowski, pastor of St. Edmund parish in Warren.
Fr. Kendzierski died May 19 of cancer. He was 74.
Suffering with a persistent bronchitis that led to pneumonia, Fr. Kendzierski was persuaded to go to hospital April 30. Tests conducted there revealed cancerous lesions on his spine and in his brain.
He was released May 14 to return to his rectory under hospice care. On May 17, parish staff learned Fr. Kendzierski had been diagnosed with Stage IV cancer throughout his body.
Fr. Wittkowski spoke warmly of his friend, saying he loved to cook, and enjoyed entertaining small groups of friends: “He loved to travel, and he was very cultured — he loved opera, he loved ballet. He was very much a gentleman from another era.”
Born Feb. 10, 1938, in Detroit to Stanley and Irene (Kuplicki) Kendzierski, he attended Our Lady Queen of Apostles Grade School and St. Ladislaus High School, both in Hamtramck, before going on to St. Mary’s College, Orchard Lake, and St. John’s Provincial Seminary, Plymouth Township.
Fr. Kendzierski was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 6, 1964.
His assignments included serving as an associate pastor at Immaculate Conception Parish, Detroit (1964-69); and St. Mary Magdalen Parish, Melvindale (1969-74). He was pastor of St. Martha Parish, Dearborn (1974-1981); St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Detroit (1981-84); St. Fabian Parish, Farmington Hills (1984-95; and St. Colman Parish, Farmington Hills (1995-present).
Fr. Kendzierski was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his sisters, Stella Sokolowski and Helen Casaday.
A funeral Mass was celebrated May 24 by Auxiliary Bishop Arturo Cepeda at St. Colman Church, Farmington Hills. His cremated remains were interred in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.
Condolences may be sent to Helen Casaday, 3945 Harold St., Detroit 48212.
