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Mary Ann Vojdik
Born: 4/18/1935
Died: 3/13/2021
Age: 85
Community: Grand Blanc, MI
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Mary Ann Vojdik, 85, died peacefully at home on March 13, 2021 with her two daughters at her side. The cause of death was pancreatic cancer.
For those fortunate to know her, Mary was a role model and mentor to many. Her kindness, compassion, tenacity and grace made her an extraordinary mother and an outstanding advocate for children in her community.
Mary was born in 1935 in Flint, Michigan, a daughter of Elizabeth (Horvath) and John Kusky and the eldest of four siblings. She graduated from Kearsley High School in 1953 and worked in office administration at Mott Community College and later at a law firm. In 1958, she married John T. Vojdik, an attorney in Flint, and was a resident of Grand Blanc for most of her life.
Mary considered children the world’s most important resource and was passionate about safeguarding them. After raising her two daughters, she returned to work in Flint, focused on ensuring better lives for children. She joined the Community Coordinated Child Care program in 1978 and later worked for Children and Family Services, a private adoption and foster care agency. In 1989, she joined the Consortium on Child Abuse and Neglect (C/CAN), a non-profit agency dedicated to the safety and welfare of children. She served as its director for 17 years, bringing her considerable leadership skills, enthusiasm and gift for collaboration to bear on the critical efforts of an agency that worked with thousands of children and their families.
Under her leadership, C/CAN expanded its child abuse prevention programs, established a forensic interview program, and collaborated with a host of partner agencies to establish a child advocacy center in Genesee County. Mary was pivotal in securing a physical home for the fledgling center: a spacious house renovated with funding from the Harding Foundation. In her proposal she wrote: “It is important that children and their families have a beautiful as well as a safe and child-friendly environment to receive the services needed in child abuse cases. Many children and their families have no beauty in their lives, and I think they deserve this.” The foundation agreed, and today the house on East Street is home to the Voices for Children Advocacy Center.
Her tireless work was well-recognized locally and statewide. In 1999, The Flint Journal described her as a “field general in the battle to prevent child abuse and neglect,” and in 2004, the Children’s Trust Fund honored Mary as a Champion for Children.
Improving children’s lives was not her only passion. She also enjoyed gardening, art and music, travel, and meeting new people. She was a former member of Quota International of Flint. Above all, she treasured spending time with family, near and far. She will be deeply missed.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband John, and her brother Phillip J. Kusky. She leaves behind her daughter Valorie Vojdik (TN); her daughter Catherine Vojdik and spouse Dr. Ivan Oransky (NY/MA); her brother William Kusky and spouse Donna; her sister Elizabeth (Betty) Rose and spouse Robert; her sister-in-law Leslie Kusky; and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.
Private visitation for her family will be held Friday at Swartz Funeral home, followed by a private funeral at Holy Family Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers the family suggests those who wish to honor Mary’s memory make donations to the Voices for Children Advocacy Center (Genesee County), the Children’s Trust Fund or other charities dedicated to the welfare of children.
Your condolences may be shared with the family at swartzfuneralhomeinc.com
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| Visitation |
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3/16/2021 |
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| Private Visitation |
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| Funeral Service |
| Private Service |
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