Michalene Frances Zaleski
1946 – 2024
Michalene (Mickey) Zaleski passed away peacefully in her home on October 19, 2024, surrounded by her loving family.
Mickey was born February 8, 1946, in Chicago, Il to Raymond and Helen Bukowski. Mickey had 3 siblings. Older sister Carol (Bob) Treder, older brother John (Patricia) Bukowski, and younger sister Susie (Ray) Skortz. Mickey is survived by her husband Kenneth, daughter Margaret (Harry) Johnson, son Ken Jr. (Laura) and grandson Caleb Johnson.
Mickey graduated from Saint Stanislaus High School in Chicago 1963, which was also the year she met the love of her life Kenneth on a blind date. After that she would go to beauty school to become a hair stylist.
Mickey and Ken were married on October 31, 1965, in Chicago, Il. Soon after that she would stop working as she became pregnant with her daughter Margaret and three years later son Ken Jr. was born.
One of Mickey's greatest attributes had to be how selfless she was and how she deeply cared for others. A great example of this was in June 2002 her son Ken Jr. was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Mickey would travel back and forth between Oklahoma City and Chicago to help care for Ken Jr. when he was going through his Chemo Treatments. She did this for six months. The following year daughter Margaret would deliver Mickey's grandchild Caleb. Mickey went to Indiana and stayed with Margaret for six weeks to help care for Caleb.
Mickey also had quite the outgoing personality. She had no problem striking up a conversation with even a stranger. She had the marvelous ability to make people feel good about themselves. Mickey was also deeply dedicated to her volunteer work at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edmond. Ok. There she would meet some wonderful people, many of whom would become her best friends. She would also at times do the church linens which almost got accidentally thrown in the garbage by husband Ken Sr. which is a whole other story for another time.
One of Mickey's and Ken's favorite things to do during their free time was traveling. Whether it was cruising the oceans, looking at the glaciers of Alaska or touring the beautiful Islands of Hawaii to name just a few of the places they visited.
Mickey will truly be missed by her family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like you to consider making a donation in Mickey's Memory to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation by visiting alzinfo.org.
Family will be present to greet friends between 10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 28, 2024, before services.
Memorial services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 28, 2024, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.