Paulina Florine Bialek

Paulina Florine Bialek, 78 of Rudyard passed away early Sunday morning, November 11 at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey. She was born on December 1,1933 to Wiliam and Louisa (VorderLandwehr) Shoup at home in Custer, the second eldest of eight children. Florine was educated at Weldon Creek School, Custer High School, Ludington St.Simons, and graduated Valdictorian at Scottville High School, class of 1952. She graduated from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids and taught at Ricky and North Amber rural schools in Mason County and Forest Hills Elementary in Grand Rapids. She then joined the Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters and completed her Masters Degree, teaching in Parochilal Schools in Traverse City, Muskegon, Portland, Bay City and Taylor. She later moved to Germany and married a widower Hermann Bialek, and continued to teach at U.S. Army bases. They retired in the mid-1980\'s and moved to a farm near Rudtyard, and she resumed teaching in public education as well as Catholic Religion education programs. She was very active in the Rudyard Senior Citizen Center. She has been a very active member of St.Joseph Catholic Church in Rudyard since moving to the area and active in music, litergy, education and the St.Joseph Womens Group. Florine was the eldest of the Shoup Family Singers, a popular singing family of the 1940\'s and 1950\'s in Western Michigan. They had a weekly radio show, and were on numerous TV Shows and regulars at gatherings in the area.She played violin for the Grand Rapids Symphonette in the late 50\'s, and after years of absence she resumed playing weekly with several Rudyard area musicians. She was also a devoted member of the Grand Rapids Dominican Association. Upon her husband\'s retirement in the mid-1980\'s the couple often visited the Custer area for family activities. Yet, following her husbands passing in May, 2000, she continued living in the UP area they loved, and that included winters. She was preceeded in death by her husband, Hermann, parents, William and Louisa Shoup, a sister, Floretta, and brother in law, John Smedley. She is survived by step sons, Armin and Berndt (Antja) Bialek, in Germany; 3 step grandchildren in Germany; 3 brothers, William (Sherry) Shoup, North Muskegon; James (Donna) Shoup, Custer; Daniel (Janet) Shoup, Traverse City; 3 sisters, Mary Shoup (Jim Allison), Custer; Margaret Smedley, Traverse City; Bernadette Lykins, Lakeview; many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and one great great niece. Mass of Christian burial wil be held on Thursday, November 15 at St.Joseph Catholic Church in Rudyard at 11 am with Visitation one hour before mass. Fr. Joseph Vandannooor will officiate. A memorial Mass will be on Saturday, November 17 at St.Mary\'s Catholic Church in Custer at 11 am with Visitation beginning at 9 am. Dodson Funeral Home , St.Ignace is handling arrangements in Rudyard and Wyman-Stevens Funeral Home, Scottville is in charge of Custer arrangements, The family asked for contributions to be directed to the Grand Rapids Dominican Association; 4H club of Chippewa County or a charity of your choice.Burial will be in St. Mary\'s cemetery, Custer.

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Paulina Florine Bialek

November 11, 2012