Edward Szluk

Our dear father, Edward Stephen Szluk, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 23^rd, at Trinity Health of Livonia hospital.  He was 95 years old.

Edward was born in Detroit on June 6^th, 1927, the youngest of 8 children, to Martha and John Szluk.  He was a first generation American, as his parents were born in Hungary and immigrated to the United States in the early 1900’s.  He grew up in the Delray neighborhood of Detroit, which was a mix of Polish, Hungarian and eastern European families, and the neighborhood and life there provided many fond memories for Ed.  His Hungarian heritage and the food, language and history of the culture was a source of great pride to him.   It truly made up his very unique identity, and everyone who knew and met Ed, knew that he was a proud Hungarian American.

Ed finished elementary and high school in the suburban Detroit area.  In 1945, he enlisted in the Army during  World War II, and spent two years of service in post-occupation Germany.  He received an honorable discharge in 1947.  Ed met his first wife, Virginia Medvid, through mutual friends, and they married in 1955.  Their first child, Christine, was born in April 1958.  Their son, Nicholas, was born in July 1960.  By this time, Ed was employed at General Motors Corporation, in the Personnel and Employee benefits group.  He and his young family were then transferred to a division of General Motors, Delco Electronics, in Santa Barbara, California in 1962, and lived happily there for several years.  Ed had fond memories of the wonderful friends and neighbors they met there, and always had a longing to return to southern California to live.  As fate would have it, however, his young wife was diagnosed with breast cancer and passed away in 1967.  In 1969, Ed moved his young family back to Detroit to be near his older sisters and family, to help raise his two small children.

In 1970, at his sisters’ urging, he attended a ‘Parents without Partners’ dance, where he met the next love of his life, Consolina Allegrina Costrini.  Consolina was a widow, with four small children.  It was love at first sight.  They dated for 6 months, and in January of 1971, they married.  Ed and Connie lived happily and together raised their 6 children, who cherished their parents and all that they had sacrificed for them.

Ed had a very successful career at General Motors for over 40 years.  He rose through the ranks of Personnel Administration to become Personnel Director for GM, and was well-liked and respected by all who knew him.  After retirement, he went on to have a second career as a consultant where he leveraged his deep knowledge and experience with labor contracts to assist the MNAPC in Washington DC.

Ed and Connie traveled extensively to Italy to visit Connie’s family,  and then to Hungary to visit Ed’s family.  They spent time in Florida and California, enjoying the warm weather and visiting their children.  Ed was an avid reader and had tremendous knowledge of history, geography and world events. He was a prime source of information and his opinions and thoughts were cherished by all.  His ability to recall facts, dates and news events was legendary.  No matter the situation, you could always depend on getting reliable help and guidance from Ed.  It wasn’t unusual to run into an old neighbor or acquaintance who said they still had a book they needed to return to him.  He had a wonderful wit with the ability to dial up a quip or joke to fit any occasion or audience.  He also loved food, and could enjoy many different cuisines, but none more than his Hungarian delicacies.

He was the best grandpa ever.  His kindness, sense of humor and storytelling will be greatly missed.   He was just the best dad, grandpa, brother, uncle, friend and neighbor.  Everyone loved him.  Dad, we love you and we will miss you.

Ed is preceded in death by his wife, Consolina, and his daughter, Christine Rock.  He is survived by his children Gregory (Denise) Costrini, Linda (Mark) Lozier, Nicholas (Clare) Szluk, Daniel Costrini and Edward Costrini; son-in-law James (Laurie) Rock  his grandchildren Maxwell Rock (Father James Rock), Alexandra (Bala) Varadhan, John Lozier, Michelle Lozier, Claire Lozier, Celia Costrini, Mara Szluk, Ryan Costrini and Chase Costrini; and many nieces and nephews. 

Friends may visit the Schrader-Howell Funeral Home, 280 South Main Street, Sunday, December 4, 2022 from 12:00 P.M. until 1:30 P.M.  A Memorial Mass will be held on Monday, December 5, 2022 at St. Kenneth Catholic Church, 14951 North Haggerty Road, Plymouth, Michigan beginning at 10:00 A.M.  

Edward will be laid to rest at Glen Eden Cemetery in Livonia, Michigan with Military Honors.