Henrietta Kryskalla

SERVICES: A mass to celebrate Hank's life will be held at 12Noon on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak, MI.

UNITED STATES NAVY VETERAN

Henrietta "Hank" Kryskalla, 91 years old, currently of West Chester, Ohio passed away on January 1st, 2015. She was born July 25th, 1923 in Detroit, Michigan to Loraine Meininger and Henry Seldon. Henrietta was educated in Detroit at Annunciation Elementary, Cass Technical High School and the Detroit College of Business. During her high school years she became an accomplished swimmer and competed successfully at state and national levels representing her school teams and the Detroit Yacht Club. Henrietta served her country in the Navy (W.A.V.E.S.) during World War II as a Chaplain's assistant and swimming instructor. Following her service she met her husband, Carl, while working for Detroit's Public Lighting Commission. They were married on May 28th, 1949 at Annunciation Church, in Detroit, Michigan.
Henrietta's passing has been preceded by her beloved husband, Carl and their sons, Jack and Marty. Her late siblings include, Harold, Ethel (Bonneville), Aileen and Milton Meininger. Surviving children include Carol Thornbury, late husband Jerry, and grand-children: Erik, Heather and Ryan, daughter Mary Baldwin, husband Chris, grand-children Josh (wife Kelly and great-grand children Kaitlin and Parker) and Zachary (wife Mollie and great-grandchild Ethan), sons: Carl Jr., Michael, wife Eileen, grand-children Scott, Connor and Finn, son, Daniel and daughter Cecilia Fabry, husband Mark, grand-children Danielle and Adam.
After raising her children, Henrietta pursued a career in acting at Wayne State University, Detroit, MI., Oakland University and Meadowbrook Theater, Rochester, MI., Northwestern University, Evanston, Il., the Burt Reynolds School of Acting, Jupiter Fl. and The College of the Desert, Palm Springs, Ca. Hank acted in community theater productions, including; "Antigone", "Picnic" and "South Pacific". While living in Palm Springs, Ca., she also appeared as an "extra" in a number of television programs and motion pictures. Henrietta continued her life-long love of swimming by teaching and coaching for the YMCA and various other groups and organizations throughout her adult life. She continued to compete, winning numerous awards in the U.S. Senior Olympics. Hank also competed in and won honors in the Ms. Senior America Pageant system. In the talent segment of the competition, she often performed her trademark song, "Hey Look Me Over". It became her anthem and this vivacious lady truly embodied the uplifting spirit of the song!
Hey look me over, lend me an ear,
Fresh out of clover, morgaged up to here,
Don't pass the plate folks,
Don't pass the cup,
I figure whenever you're down and out,
The only way is up..
And I'll be up like a rose bud,
High on the vine,
Don't thumb your nose folks,
Take a tip from mine,
I'm a little bit short of the elbow room,
But let me get me some,
And look out world, here I come...

A mass to celebrate Hank's life will be held, 12:00Noon on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak, MI.