On Tuesday, December 8, 2020, Dr. Elizabeth Marie Wolkowicz died from complications of Coronavirus at the age of 42. She was born March 10, 1978 to Mariann (nee: Bogle) and Ronald Lee Wolkowicz. A lifelong Michigander, she spent her childhood in Inkster, and was most recently a resident of Novi, MI.

Raised in a family full of educators, Elizabeth was excited about learning from a young age and was a voracious reader throughout her life. Education was at the center of her life's work and her personal goals. She attended Divine Child Elementary and High School in Dearborn, graduating in 1996. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Michigan State University, a Masters of Arts in Special Education from Wayne State University, a Specialist of Arts Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Eastern Michigan University and, in 2018, accomplished her dream of achieving the distinction of Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership also from EMU.

Elizabeth would spend the majority of her career as an urban educator in Southeastern Michigan, serving K-12 students in Detroit with a dedication to literacy, leadership and access to education for all young people. She was especially passionate about mentoring and empowering girls to meet their potential and achieve their goals through education. She dreamed of opening her own school program committed to that purpose.

Elizabeth was known by all who met her as brilliantly smart, fiercely independent, and hysterically funny. She was a beloved educator, a lifelong student, a loyal friend, a strong shoulder, and she lit up every room she walked into. She was a daughter, sister, and auntie to so many people well beyond her blood family and her capacity for care and sense of family was as expansive as her incredible laugh. We also send sympathy to Elizabeth's school community at Voyageur Academy in Detroit, where she was best known as Dr. W. We know she will be missed by everyone who's life she touched with humor, encouragement, and love. The family is setting up a scholarship fund for high school girls at Voyageur Academy to assist them in their transition towards higher education.

Dr. Elizabeth Marie Wolkowicz is preceded in death by her mother, Mariann Wolkowicz and survived by her father Ronald Wolkowicz, her sister Lindsey Wolkowicz and her partner Dillon Paul, her aunts and uncles Mary Connolly and Leo Wolkowicz, Mary Ellen and Mike Kellogg and Family, Mary and Denny Fryz, the Bogle Family, the Connolly Family and an enormous, intergenerational group of friends, cherished colleagues, and the students she mentored over her eighteen years as an educator. Elizabeth had lifelong friends who she considered "sisters from other mothers" - Breanne Fryz Osborne, Sheila Reeves Katus and Julie Vantine. She was a loving aunt to Lindsey's daughter Maeve and Sheila's children Maggie, Evie, and Nathaniel. Through their passion for education, she was also grateful for a deep, loving friendship and a sense of shared purpose with Dr. Rod Atkins and Dr. Dorian Leigh Roberts. We know that Elizabeth loved, and was loved by, so many.

We look forward to gathering with all who loved her to celebrate her life in the year ahead, when it is safer to do so. Thank you for holding her in your hearts and memories and carrying her generous spirit, sass, grit, authenticity, and compassion forward in your daily lives.

Visitation Sunday 2 pm - 8pm with a 7 pm evening service at the John N. Santeiu & Son Funeral Home. In state Monday 9:30 am until the 10 am Funeral service at Church of the Divine Child.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to the Dr. Elizabeth Wolkowicz Memorial Fund to support access to educational opportunities for the students Elizabeth served every day as they pursue their goals through higher education. Thank you for your sympathy and support during this difficult time.

Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/dr-elizabeth-wolkowicz-memorial-fund

If you prefer to make a direct donation to the school in Elizabeth's name, please send a check, payable to Voyageur Academy to the following address with Dr. Wolkowicz Memorial Fund in the memo line.

Voyageur Academy

Attn: Mirella Arellano

4366 Military St.,  Detroit, MI 48210

Due to the ongoing concern of COVID-19, visitors at Santeiu & Son will be limited at any one time and masks will be required at all services. While the church is large and can accommodate social distancing, we encourage those who feel cautious or are vulnerable due to health, age, or potential exposure to consider joining remotely.

The service will be livestreamed here on Monday morning at 10a.m.: https://youtu.be/raDzWpKL7dQ