Sophie Brooks

Sophie Brooks was an amazing woman, who combined a big heart and seemingly inexhaustible energy with a can-do attitude and unruffled calm. The mother of nine children – an achievement in and of itself – Sophie also found time to give back to the community at Tender Care, and was always willing to lend a helping hand to a friend in need. Nurturing and hardworking, Sophie devoted her life to caring for her beloved family members – for Sophie, family always came first. Sophie’s selflessness, kindness, and love will live on in the hearts and memories of all those whose lives she touched, both as a cherished memory and as a source of inspiration in the years to come.

The year 1931 was a bleak year for many Americans: two years into the Great Depression, the unemployment rate had already reached 16.3%, many businesses were filing for bankruptcy, and food prices rskyrocketed due to drought. For proud parents Joseph and Nettie (Laniewski) Krajnik, however, this somber year was brightened by a ray of sunshine – the birth of their daughter, Sophie Marie, on January 21, 1931.

The Krajnik family eked a living from the earth on their farm in Posen, Michigan. A large and boisterous bunch, in addition to Sophie there were ten children in the family: Johnny, Albert, Frank, Aloysius (Alex), Chester, Casimir (Cash), Stanley, Ingnatius (Ace), Chester, Edmond, and Irene. The farm has now become a family hunting camp, and a gathering place for holidays and celebrations.

Sophie married the love of her life, Arthur Brooks, on April 30, 1955. The ceremony took place at St. Anne’s Catholic Church of Alpena, Michigan. As the years went by, Sophie and Arthur were blessed with nine children: Jerry, William (Billy), Elaine, Harold, Linda, Donna, Donald, Maryann, and Arlene. Sophie had her first child at 26, and her last child at 40 – as you could guess, she was a busy and spunky lady! Sophie and her family lived in Alpena until 1961, at which point they moved south to Flint, Michigan.

A full-time homemaker, all of Sophie’s kids will tell you that she was amazing at her job. Favorite childhood memories include homemade snacks before bedtime, icy chocolate malts on hot summer nights, and fresh bread, doughnuts, and cinnamon rolls after church on Sundays. The kids could never wait for the goodies to be ready on Sunday – Sophie seemed to have eyes in the back of her head, however, and could always tell when somebody was trying to sneak a taste!

Another of Sophie’s specialties was her famous chicken soup and homemade dumplings or noodles. Whenever Sophie asked a guest what they wanted for dinner, the answer was always the same: “Chicken and dumplings!” People often asked Sophie for the recipe, but she would never tell them. It wasn’t that it was a secret; rather, she said, “don’t measure, it goes by feel, and you just can’t copy that kind of recipe.” With her big heart and welcoming smile, Sophie had a talent for making people feel at home. Friends and neighbors loved to stop by the house, and Sophie always had room for one more at the table. The neighborhood kids also liked to hang out at the Brooks house, in part because with nine children, they had a full baseball team!

In 1978, the Brooks family moved back north. Since four of the kids were done with schooling at this point and Sophie had some more free time, she decided to go to work. She cooked at various restaurants until finding her true calling at Tender Care. Sophie loved her job at Tender Care, which became her home away from home. She always thought of others before herself, and even hesitated to take a vacation because she didn’t want to leave her friends on their own. In her free time, Sophie liked to relax by sewing, knitting, or crocheting, and usually gave her creations away to friends and family.

One favorite family anecdote involves a Thanksgiving dinner when the whole family gathered together. Sophie was at home cooking a turkey dinner, while everyone else went hunting. Unfortunately, Jerry shot himself in the foot, and the hunting trip ended early as he was rushed back to the house. Sophie took one look at the injury and said, “It’s not bleeding – you can wait until the pies are done before going to the hospital.”

As the years went by and Sophie grew older, her sense of adventure and zest for life remained as strong as ever. For example, she took her first bike ride at the age of 70, and enjoyed camping in the mountains of Montana. For her 75th birthday, Sophie’s family organized a surprise birthday party with all her friends and family. It was tough to keep a secret with so many people involved, but they pulled it off and Sophie had one of the happiest birthdays of her life, surrounded by those she loved best in the world.

Selfless, hardworking, and kindhearted, Sophie was a devoted wife, a loving mother and grandmother, and a faithful friend. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by her many friends and family members.

Mrs. Sophie Marie Brooks died on May 10, 2013, at the age of 82. Sophie’s family includes her children, Jerry (Nancy) Brooks of Alpena, William “Billy” (Deanie) Brooks of Clio, Elaine Brooks, Harold Brooks, both of Alpena, Linda (Christopher) Laidler of Mt. Morris, Donna (Chris Cross) Brooks of Grand Blanc, Donald Brooks of Lakelinden, MI, Mary Ann (Neil) Kotwicki of Alpena, and Arlene Brooks of Wayne, $MI; 26 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and six brothers, Aloysius “Alex” (Martha) Krajnik of Alpena, Stanley (Elizabeth) Krajnik of Rogers City, Albert Krajnik of Grand Lake, Frank Krajnik of Georgia, Casimir “Cash” (Ann) Krajnik of Rogers City, and Ignatius “Ace” Krajnik of Alpena. She was preceded in death by her parents, Nettie and Joseph Krajnik; her husband, Arthur Brooks; her brothers, Edmond, Chester, and Johnny; her sister, Irene; her daughter-in-law, Nancy Brooks; and her granddaughter, Becky Thomas.

Sophie Brooks is at McWilliams Funeral Home – Alpena, where friends may call on Tuesday, May 14, from 4 to 8 p.m. They may also call at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on Wednesday, May 15, from 1 p.m. until the Mass of Christian Burial at 2 p.m., with Rev. Richard Schaeffer officiating. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery. Please visit Sophie’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can learn more about her life, share a favorite memory or photo, and sign the online guestbook.