Page 13 - The Wayne Dispatch

Longtime Wayne resident celebrates her 90th year

By Carolyn Marnon to pay his salary while he was in the
Wayne resident Irene “Virgie” sanitorium for about nine months
Mack celebrated her 90th birthday and then for a bit while he recovered
last month after being honored with at home. His fellow employees con-
a resolution by the City Council at tributed their overtime pay to the
their May 7 meeting. After City Clerk family. Virgie is very grateful that she
Tina Stanke read the resolution, Vir- didn’t have to worry about how she
gie seemed surprised when she com- was going to pay the bills. Since she
mented “I did all this?” Wayne had no extra money, she cleaned
resident John Van Stipdonk led the houses for others and made clothing
audience and city council in singing for her kids. They went on to have
a rousing round of Happy Birthday two more children to round out their
to the upcoming nonagenarian who family: Milton Jr., Robert, Theresa
attended the meeting with her son, and Marie.
Milt Jr. and his wife, Judge Laura “She was a fantastic mother,” says
Mack. Laura. Virgie took the two boys on
Born in Detroit on May 22, 1929, the bus to Tiger Stadium one day.
Virgie was the 2nd of three children She’d take the bus to the Olympia
born to Roy G. Johnston and Mary with Milt to attend hockey games. At
Waits. When she was 15, her parents that time, she says you could walk
divorced. Her mother, Mary, held var- around Detroit, have something to
ious jobs to put food on the table. eat, and enjoy yourself.
Mary befriended some actresses at Eventually becoming a seam-
the Fox Theatre who gave their cast- stress while she stayed at home, she
off clothing to her to make clothing ended up making dozens of wedding
for Virgie and her siblings. Daughter- and wedding party dresses in her
in-law, Laura Mack, (who is the 29th home. Her “business” started when
District Court Judge for Wayne), she was asked to make a veil in a dif-
commented that “Even though they ferent color for a wedding. Someone
were poor, they were always clean saw it and through word of mouth,
and well-dressed.” her reputation grew. “I didn’t like to
A strong work ethic was instilled say no” because she always wanted
in Virgie and her brother, Leroy, and to help people out. She remembers
sister, Ionia (aka Dolores) as they having bridesmaid dresses lined up
had to clean the house, shop for gro- in her living room. One time, a
ceries and cook at a young age. It bridesmaid was not coming to the
wasn’t all work though as they were house for her fitting. Virgie called her
able to swim in Belleville Lake and up and the girl’s father said the girl
dance to the big bands of the day. had a 46 bust. Well, Virgie made up
Sitting in a chair in her living the dress and guess what? It fit! Vir-
room, wearing black pants, a floral gie says she always got to see her
blouse and black sweater, Virgie puts “artwork” when she went to the wed-
on red lipstick before she speaks dings.
and then places it on the table next As the kids grew older, Virgie
to her chair. She has so many mem- went on to work outside the home.
ories to share. She worked at Washington School
One of Virgie’s special memories for 21 years. She says she was one
happened when she lived near the of the first para-pros in Michigan.
Willow Run Bomber Plant. She says Some instructors came from Wayne
she remembers laying in the field on Wayne resident Irene “Virgie” Mack in 1945. State University to teach lessons on
her back and waving to the pilots some other girls went to school with Glenwood Street in 1953. Virgie says how to handle children. There was
who were flying bombers out of the curlers in their hair because there the brand new house was $13,500. no other special training for the job.
plant, headed to Europe. She re- was a dance later that night. They got When they bought the house, Glen- When she started working, there
members that they always waved in trouble and had to take the wood was a dirt road and there was were no benefits; later, she was able
back. curlers out. Virgie also liked to ride a farm across the street where Uht to become a member of the teacher’s
Virgie remembers when the motorcycles. Milt had a motorcycle. Funeral Home now stands. union.
Rouge River wasn’t polluted. She re- Virgie met her husband, Milton L. Virgie had two small children at Her faith is important to her.
members tobogganing down the Mack, while attending Wayne Memo- home when Milton was diagnosed When she married Milton, she had to
nearby hills. The high school was rial High School. (Milton died several with tuberculosis and had to recover convert to Catholicism. She took to
called Wayne High and she partici- years ago). A few days after graduat- at Maybury Sanitorium for several the religion right away and became
pated in the Glee Club and the Quill ing in 1948, they were married. They months in 1956. The company Mil-
and Scroll Club. One time, she and bought their first and only house on ton worked for at the time continued See Birthday, page 15
The Wayne Dispatch · June 2019 · 13