Georgene Lucy Gorzen

Georgene Lucy Gorzen passed away on Aug. 7th after a lengthy fight with Alzheimer’s. She was born on Feb. 22, 1936 in Harbor Beach, Michigan the last of the eleven children of Frank and Lucy Grekowicz. Georgene was orphaned when she was 8 years old and was raised by her older siblings until she was a live-in student at St. Mary’s Academy for Girls in Monroe, Michigan. The school was operated by the IHM sisters, two of whom were her biological sisters.

After high school she lived with her sister Ellen, her husband and their 4 children in Lima, Peru where he was transferred to as a US Air Force meteorologist. Georgene helped to raise the kids while being employed by a radio station and teaching English to the children of the well to do.

She moved back to Michigan after her year in Peru and was employed by a small town doctor as a secretary, medical assistant and baby sitter. She met her future husband Joel Gorzen, a Michigan State Police trooper, while working for the doctor. He stopped at the doctor’s office while investigating an injury traffic accident. She and Joel were married on Feb. 23, 1957. They had 7 children and lived in 5 different cities in Michigan due to his promotions and transfers. After Joel’s retirement in 1988, they moved to Arizona where her daughter Kim was a school teacher and where two of Georgene’s sisters also retired with their families.

Georgene was very active in the churches that she attended in both Michigan (St. Mary’s, St. Clair) and Glendale (St. Raphael’s and Our Lady of the Valley). She was involved in the program for children’s religious education (St. Mary’s), the St. Vincent DePaul Society (all three churches), sang in the church choir and participated in the Women’s Guild (St. Raphael’s).

After many years dealing with Alzheimer’s at home, she became a resident at Terra Pointe Memory Care Facility in Glendale in October of 2023. She finally was placed in the care of Neighborhood Hospice on July 17, 2026. The family is grateful for the wonderful care she received from both staffs.

She is survived by her husband of 69 years, 7 children (and their spouses), 8 grandchildren (and their spouses), 10 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews across the country.

A funeral mass will be held at noon on Aug. 27 at St. Raphael Catholic Church at 5525 W. Acoma Dr., Glendale 85306. A rosary will be held at 11:30 am prior to the mass.

Memorials may be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society at either St. Raphael’s or Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Churches.