Sophie Patricia Precht

Sophie “Zofia” Patricia (Kawczynski) Precht

Sophie “Zofia” Patricia (Kawczynski) Precht, 86 years, of Temperance, MI, passed away on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at Mercy St. Anne Hospital after a brief illness with her loving husband of 66 years by her side. Born in Toledo, OH on July 27, 1937, she was the daughter of Mieczyslaw and Irene (Michalak) Kawczynski and lived in the former Polish neighborhood, “Lagrinka.”

Growing up in the Polish neighborhood with her family, she learned to love and cherish her Polish Catholic faith, spending many hours at the former St. Hedwig Catholic Church where she was a lifelong parishioner and later at St. Adalbert Catholic Church. She served as a lector, extraordinary Eucharistic minister, finance committee member, making pierogis for the pierogi booth, and was in charge of the Variety Booth at the annual St. Hedwig/Lagrange Street Polish Festival for many years.

She was a 1952 graduate of St. Hedwig Catholic School, where Sophie had the honor of crowning the Blessed Virgin Mary, and a 1956 graduate of Central Catholic High School. A few years later, while working at the St. Regis Paper Company, she met the dashing Robert W. Precht Sr. They were married at St. Hedwig Catholic Church on October 25, 1958 and they would spend the next 66 years together. Sophie worked for many years at Ohio Citizens Bank, now PNC Bank, and kept in touch with her friends there, often meeting for lunch throughout the years. She also loved spending time with her childhood friends, Mary Ann Kowalski and Corinne Kobylak. She was active in the Polish Ladies Auxiliary Post 74, RCIA classes, the St. Hedwig and St. Adalbert Altar Rosary Society, and many prayer groups.

From 1989 to 2004, she traveled to Poland for three months at a time to stay with family. These annual visits brought much joy and memories throughout the years as she was proud of her Polish heritage. Later in life, Sophie enjoyed her visits to the Bedford Senior Center with her daughter-in-law, Rosie, and good friend, Karl Weher. She often remarked that she had lived a good, long life. Sophie’s love of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ was evident in her life and she shared that love with everyone she met and she never met someone she didn’t pray for.

Sophie leaves behind her loving husband, Robert W. Precht Sr.; her only son, Robert W. (Rosemary) Precht Jr.; her beloved grandsons, Robert W. (Abby) Precht III, and Michael J. Precht; her dear great-granddaughters, Norah and Prudence Precht; her sisters-in-law, Donna Kawczynski, Shelley Kawczynski, and Donna Andersen; her family in Poland; her godchildren; many nieces, nephews, and extended family; her dear friends, especially, Tyler O’Brien and the O’Brien family, Sheila and Ray D’Aguanno; many wonderful neighbors; her friends from PNC Bank; her friends at the Bedford Senior Center; her friends at church and the prayer groups; and all those she touched through her prayers. She was preceded in death by her parents; her infant brother, Joseph; her siblings Roman (Kasia) Kawczynski, Mitchell Kawczynski, James Kawczynski, Irene Betty May, and Jack LaGrou.

Family and friends may visit the Urbanski Bedford Funeral Chapel, 8300 Lewis Ave., Temperance, MI, on Sunday, January 21, 2024 from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with the rosary being prayed at 7:00 p.m. The funeral mass will be celebrated at Sts. Adalbert and Hedwig Catholic Church, 3233 Lagrange St., Toledo, OH on Monday, January 22, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. in the church narthex. Sophie will be laid to rest at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Resurrection Cemetery, Temperance, MI. Memorial contributions in her name may be made to EWTN or the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The family thanks all the medical staff at St. Anne’s Hospital that cared for her as well as the many doctors and nurses who cared for her throughout her life. Online condolences may be shared at www.bedfordfuneralchapel.com.