Meredith "Mickey" Skowronek

It is with great sadness we announce that Meredith (Mickey) Ann Skowronek, age 82, passed away on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, in Englewood, Colorado.  She was rehabilitating at Julia Temple Healthcare Center following surgery for a recent fall after several years with dementia.  Her passing was peaceful with family by her side. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Rich Skowronek; four children, Arlene (Roger) Barringer, Doug Skowronek (Christy Perez), Paul (Michelle) Skowronek and Mike Skowronek; and six grandchildren, Christine Barringer, Sarah Barringer, Andrew Skowronek, Julia Barringer, Leigha Fabian, and Maddie Skowronek. Mickey is also survived by her brother, Tom Roach, and many nieces and nephews. Mickey is predeceased by her sister, Janice Schimelfening, and her parents.

Mickey was born October 8, 1939, in Detroit, Michigan, the oldest child of Thomas Joseph and Margaret Eleanore Roach.  She attended St. David’s, an all-girls Catholic high school in Detroit, graduating in 1957.  As a high school freshman, Mickey and her girlfriend attended a football game at St. Joseph’s, a nearby all-boys Catholic high school. Her future husband, Rich, and his friend, who were juniors at St. Joseph’s, spotted the girls in the stands and sat behind them. Sparks started to fly with playful bantering during the game.  The boys walked Mickey and her friend home, and the rest is history.

After high school, Mickey graduated from a medical assistant’s program and worked in a doctor’s office. Mickey and Rich married on July 23, 1960, in Detroit. At the time, Rich was a Lieutenant in the United States Army. Two days after their marriage, Mickey and Rich packed up their belongings and drove across the country to Ft. Carson, Colorado.  Over the next 20 years, Mickey and Rich lived on various Army bases throughout the country and overseas in Germany.

In 1979, the family settled into post-military life in Bryan, Texas, where Mickey worked for over 20 years in the International Admissions office of Texas A&M University.  Mickey loved working with international students as they applied for admission to the university.

Mickey had a very strong Catholic faith and a lifelong devotion to community service.  While in Texas, she remained active at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bryan, as well as St. Vincent de Paul Society of Bryan College Station.

After 27 years in Texas, Mickey and Rich both retired from Texas A&M and moved to Colorado to be close to their daughter, son-in-law and three granddaughters.  In Colorado, Mickey was active at Our Lady of Loreto Catholic Church, serving in the Ladies Auxiliary and eventually leading the group as President.  She also regularly volunteered at the Denver Catholic Worker Soup Kitchen.

While very proud of her Irish heritage, Mickey became engrained in the Skowronek family Polish traditions and nurtured a love of family traditions in her children.  She never hesitated to express love for her family.

Mickey was a very kind and gentle person. She always had a warm smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye. She had a great sense of commitment to God and her family. She was a very caring and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend.  Her presence among us enriched us all and she is dearly missed.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, February 3rd from 4-8pm with a vigil, recitation of the rosary, and remembrances from 7-8pm at Horan & McConaty in Centennial, CO. For those who can't join personally for Mickey's remembrances please join us virtually by clicking on the following link: https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony/?c=58dc6e6e-6dcc-45f5-97c6-cc089294daf0

There will be a memorial Catholic mass on Friday, February 4th at 10am at Our Lady of Loreto Catholic Church in Foxfield, CO.  Mickey will be laid to rest on Monday, February 7th at 11am at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, CO. For those attending the service at Fort Logan, please meet at Staging Area A no later than 10:45am. You may view the Mass at Our Lady of Loreto Church with this livestream link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAu1ULi4Iv-Dd-g86sIo-lA/live

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Denver Catholic Worker Soup Kitchen (https://denvercatholicworkersoupkitchen.org/donate-to-the-soup-kitchen) or to the St Vincent De Paul Society of Bryan College Station (https://www.svdp-bcs.org/donations). Please specify that the donation is in memory of Mickey Skowronek.

Please leave memories and condolences for Mickey by signing her tribute wall.