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| Irene Kesich, pictured in the lobby of Hawthorne Terrace, an apartment complex for independent older adults, likes the amenities available at the Wauwatosa residence. (Catholic Her-ald photo by Sam Lucero) |
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When Irene Kesich was raising a family of four along with her husband, monetary constraints made it difficult to take her family out on weekends. So she had friends over to play cards — namely, Polish Poker, her favorite.
Unlike regular poker, the game is played with dice, and 40, rather than 52, cards.
Now, Kesich enjoys playing Polish Poker with other residents of Hawthorne Terrace, located at 7700 W. Portland Ave., in Wauwatosa, where she has lived for five years.
“You could say we don’t play with a full deck, but that could have a double meaning,” Kesich said, smiling. Card games such as King’s Corner and sheepshead take place Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Terrace, but the stakes aren’t high. According to Kesich, the residents play for pennies.
Card games are just one of the activities at Haw-thorne Terrace in which Kesich participates. A devout Catholic, Kesich regularly attends Wednesday morning rosary in the Terrace’s fireside lounge, and is one of the few residents who help prepare the altar for 4 p.m. Saturday Mass. She is also a member of St. Mary Parish in Hales Corners, although a lack of transportation makes it difficult for her to attend Mass there. In addition, Kesich volunteers at the Terrace’s grocery store, which sells bread, meat, milk, and ice cream, and is one of the judges in the baking contest for the annual Hawthorne Terrace Olympics.
Kesich’s Catholic faith, as well as pride in her Polish heritage, began when she was very young. Kesich’s mother kept in regular contact with her siblings in Poland, and in one letter, the youngest sister — Irene’s aunt — wrote that she was hired to walk children to and from school every day. Years later, one of her charges became Pope John Paul II. Kesich’s cousin, Fr. Thaddeus Wiktorek, served at St. Josaphat’s Basilica for 25 years.
A lifelong Milwaukee resident, Kesich was raised on the city’s South Side, where her family attended SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish. She graduated from Girls’ Tech and then worked for Cutler-Hammer. Kesich met her husband, Emil, dancing at the Eagles Ballroom, and they married in 1942. As Emil was of the Serbian-Orthodox religion, the conflicts of faith were a challenge that both families had to overcome. But they managed.
Both compassionate people, the Kesichs decided to build a nursing home in Ripon, once they learned there was a need for it. The nursing home opened in 1964, and closed in 1989. Emil Kesich died in 1995, followed by their son, Emil Jr., in 1996. Kesich has three surviving children, 10 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren, with a 10th one on the way.
“I’m knitting a blanket for my future grandchild,” said Kesich. She used to crochet, but her arthritis now prevents it.
After a fall Kesich suffered in February 2000, she sold her car and condominium. She chose Hawthorne Terrace as a place to live because of its familiarity — her daughter, Mary Lynn Brzycki, is the administrative assistant and activities planner for the community, and Kesich had participated in bus trips and other activities with the community. According to Kesich, residents are very friendly, and she enjoys socializing with them.
“I love it here. It’s wonderful,” said Kesich.
For more information about Hawthorne Terrace, visit their Web site, <
www.hawthorneterrace-apartments.com>, or call (414) 258-9772.
(View from Home is a regular feature of Mature Lifestyles
spotlighting residents of area retirement communities.) 
