A life is measured not by a single achievement, but by the traditions it creates and the people it shapes. Jane Kozerski’s greatest joy and proudest accomplishment was her family, whose lives she enriched with love, strength, and high expectations.

Jane lived life with energy and purpose. She was fierce, resilient, and unwavering in her convictions. As a mother, she set high expectations for her children and believed deeply in the values of hard work, integrity, and perseverance. She loved her family enough to challenge them to become their best selves. She was many things — a loyal friend, an adventurer, a fierce competitor, and the heart of every family celebration — but above all else, Jane loved being a mother. It was the role she embraced most completely and the one that brought her the greatest pride.

Alongside that strength was an unmistakable joy for life. Jane never met a stranger. She made friends wherever she went and delighted in conversations with people from every walk of life. She welcomed adventure with open arms and was never deterred by the time of day, last-minute plans, the wrong outfit, or the passing of the years. If there was fun to be had, Jane was game.

Whether on the golf course or around the bridge table, Jane was in her element, surrounded by competition, laughter, and friends. When her children were young, she regularly hosted lively bridge nights with dear friends. To her children, the evenings seemed filled with clouds of cigarette smoke, a well-loved punch bowl, and nonstop laughter — so much laughter, in fact, that they’ve often wondered whether any bridge was actually played. The irony, of course, was that Jane herself neither smoked nor drank. She didn’t need either to keep the party going; her quick wit and love of being surrounded by friends were more than enough. Those evenings became part of the soundtrack of their childhood.

Jane also believed that life was meant to be enjoyed. She loved a trip to the casino. Whenever one of the children called asking, “Where’s Mom?”, there was a good chance Dad would offer a perfectly innocent explanation, quietly covering for one of her casino outings. It became a family joke that everyone understood and one more story that captured Jane’s sense of fun.

Jane had a legendary and unapologetic sweet tooth. She never passed up dessert and firmly believed there was no rule that said it couldn’t be breakfast. Ice cream with waffles and hot fudge cream puff sundaes were not guilty pleasures — they were perfectly acceptable ways to start the day.

Jane shared a 50-year marriage with her husband Ted. She undoubtedly ruled the roost, and he knew there really wasn’t much point in arguing. Time and again, he could be found lowering his head with a smile and gently shaking it at one of Jane’s latest escapades — whether she was firmly lecturing the children over something he would have let slide, politely but unmistakably convincing a hotel clerk there had to be a better room available, or dreaming up her next adventure.

One of the traditions they quietly kept throughout their marriage was Saturday night dinner — usually at The Danish Inn. Week after week, they went out together — just the two of them. They never felt the need to invite friends because, for him, a quiet dinner with Jane was enough. It was simply their time together, a routine they kept for decades.

The holidays were Jane’s masterpiece. Long into the evening, she could be found planning, creating, and “scheming” to make Christmas more magical than the year before. She delighted in finding the most creative gifts and poured herself into traditions that made every family gathering special. She took great pride in sharing her Polish heritage with her family — from the Christmas tradition of breaking and sharing the opłatek, offering blessings and good wishes before the meal, to preparing her beloved Easter white borscht (“moon soup”) after the family’s basket of eggs, sausage, and other foods had been blessed on Holy Saturday. Her thoughtfulness and generosity turned these traditions — and every holiday she touched — into lifelong memories.

Winter meant skating on the backyard rink that her husband painstakingly and perfectly created each year. Jane made sure every hour of his hard work was worthwhile, keeping family and friends skating late into the night and filling the crisp winter air with laughter.

Jane also had a playful spirit that never faded. Sleepovers with her granddaughters often turned into late-night polka dance parties, filled with music, laughter, and memories that will last a lifetime. There was never a baby she didn’t instinctively reach for, smile at, or coo over. Nothing brought her greater happiness than watching her family grow.

Jane had a knack for turning ordinary chores into opportunities to be together. Her grandsons knew that a call from Grandma usually meant there was mulch to spread in the yard before there was golf to play. She believed that hard work should come before fun, but she also knew that both were better when shared. More than anything, she loved watching her grandsons spend the day together, working side by side before heading to the golf course.

Jane fought with courage until the very end. She met life’s challenges with the same determination that defined every chapter of her life, refusing to let circumstances diminish her spirit.

Jane is lovingly remembered by her six children and their spouses — Ted, Steve, Lisa, Don, Tim, Marcy, Danna, Pete, Kris, and Matt; her grandchildren and their spouses and partners — Teddy, Christina, Hannah, Alec, Chris, Rebecca, Dan, Yuki, Alison, Josh, Michael, Presley, Steven, Lauren, Katie, Mark, Will, and Ellie; and her four cherished great-grandchildren — Bennett, Rae, James, and Charlotte.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted, who spent a lifetime smiling, shaking his head, and quietly keeping pace with the remarkable woman he married; by her beautiful grandson, Ben, whose memory remained forever in her heart; and by her precious great-granddaughter, Carmen, whom we find comfort imagining Jane now holding in her arms for the very first time.

Jane also leaves behind many beloved relatives and friends who enriched her life. Among them are her brother-in-law Ed, whom she adored; her cousin Barbara, who held a special place in her heart; and her niece Anne, whose extraordinary love, care and kindness were a tremendous comfort to Jane, especially during the final days of her life.

The family and friends Jane leaves behind are, in so many ways, a reflection of the life she built. They carry forward the values, traditions, resilience, generosity, and love that she instilled. Her greatest legacy is not only the family she raised, but the generations she inspired.

Her family will continue to gather around holiday tables, break and share the opłatek, savor her Easter traditions, lace up skates on winter nights, laugh over stories of bridge parties and casino adventures, and occasionally enjoy a hot fudge cream puff sundae for breakfast. In those moments, Jane’s spirit will be present, reminding them that life’s greatest joys are found in family, tradition, and saying “yes” to the next adventure.

Our family extends our heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate caregivers from Comfort Keepers and to the nurses and therapists from TONE and Helping Hands, whose kindness, patience, and dedication brought companionship and encouragement to Jane and peace of mind to our family during her final chapter.

We offer our deepest appreciation to Dr. Robert Brateman, who cared for Jane with exceptional skill and compassion for more than 40 years. Over the decades, he became far more than her physician — he was a trusted advisor and a steady presence for Jane and our family. We will always be grateful for the extraordinary care, friendship, and dignity he gave her throughout her life.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Jane’s life and share the memories she created. Visitation will be held at O’Brien Sullivan Funeral Home, 41555 Grand River in Novi on Thursday, August 6th, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church,23815 Power Rd in Farmington on Friday, August 7th, at 10:00 a.m. Visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m.