Eddis Mae Szudzik

Eddis Mae Szudzik (Hayes) age 73, passed away peacefully on August 14, 2023, in Hastings, Michigan.

Eddis was born to Albert E. Hayes Jr. and Edna M. (Studdard) Hayes on June 20, 1950, in Hastings, Michigan. She was a 1969 graduate of Hastings High school.

On May 11, 1968, Eddis married Wayne K. Hendrick, before he was drafted into the US Army and sent to Vietnam later that year. Following his return home in July 1969, they began growing their family. Wayne and Eddis were raising three children together until Wayne's death on February 23, 1989.  In 2002, Eddis met Thomas C. Szudzik, and they were married on September 25, 2004. Thomas passed away on October 23, 2020.

Eddis started working at Hastings Medical Facility (Thornapple Manor) in the early 1970's as a nurse aid. She worked there until gaining employment at Pennock Hospital in 1979. Eddis worked as a nurse aid, and she cross trained to be a Unit Secretary. She was respected greatly by her coworkers, including the nurses, doctors, and others in many departments. Eddis made many lifelong friends while working there. She concluded her employment at Pennock in September 2014.

During Eddis' time working at Pennock, she attended many bus/car trips to Chicago, Detroit, Shipshewana, and Windsor Canada for shopping, and entertainment with her coworker friends. Eddis made many friends at Pennock. Most say she kept her unit running smoothly. They remember never to touch her phone and not to take her chair. Eddis' friends and family recall several tasty meals she made. Some of her most requested meals were pan burritos, cheesy potato soup, hamburger/vegetable soup, beef stroganoff, chili, and Swiss steak dinner. Her moto was. "If you leave here hungry, it's your own fault!". Eddis enjoyed gardening her flowers and tomato plants. They were always tall and bountiful. Eddis loved her cats, most recently she had three named Milton and Gracie, she adopted them from the animal shelter, and a special kitty showed up at her house, in which she lovingly named, Little Lady. Eddis' favorite name/role besides "mom" was being called "mema". The love she had for her seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren was immeasurable. She adored supporting her grandchildren at their activities, such as sports, plays, band, and music. At times these included overnight travel. She would make it a "vacation". Eddis was always willing to eat at favorite restaurants, have family birthday dinners at home, and shopping at Goodwill, K-Mart, Target, and Dollar General. Weekend trips to Birch Run outlet mall and Frankenmuth, usually included a huge meal at Tony's I-75 restaurant. Eddis enjoyed traveling by car around Michigan with Tom. They would stop at casinos and Eddis would play quarter slot machines. When she was bored, or ran out of money, she would find a good place to sit and "people watch" or scroll through Facebook. Once Tom was finished playing poker, they'd move onto the next casino. Other places Eddis vacationed were Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and many of the states out west. She and Tom even drove out to Las Vegas, NV. She loved vacationing in Florida and made several trips with her family over the years. Spring of 2022, she was able to vacation to Florida in the Orlando area one last time with most of her family.

Eddis was proceeded in death by Timothy Wayne, her infant son; Wayne K. Hendrick, husband; Thomas C. Szudzik, husband; parents Albert and Edna Hayes; Patricia Hayes and Evelyn Hayes, sisters-in-law; James Hayes and Eugene Hayes, brothers; Sharon DeMond, sister.

Eddis is survived by her children Shelley (Casey) Wolfe; Joseph (Toni) Hendrick; Laura (James) Pickett, all from Hastings, MI. Grandchildren, Sara Hendrick; Steven Wolfe (Brandie Batten); Taylor Pickett; Madison McMasters; Makayla Pickett; Ryan and Kara Hendrick. Great grandchildren, Natilee Rose; Malea and Malayna Johnson. Also surviving brother, Arthur (Jane) Hayes, Shelia Hayes, sister-in-law, and Roderick DeMond, brother-in-law. Along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Eddis' Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at 7:00 PM with a visitation one hour prior at 6:00 PM at Girrbach Funeral Home, 328 S. Broadway, Hastings, MI. Her final wish is to be buried at Fort Custer National Cemetery next to her first husband and infant son.

Memorial donations may be made to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, www.cff.org/donate or Dementia Society of America, www.dementiasociety.org/donate or diabetes.org/ways-to-give, or Autism Alliance of Barry County, 433 W. Green St, Hastings, MI 49058.  Arrangements by Girrbach Funeral Home, to leave an online condolence visit www.girrbachfuneralhome.net.