Holy Cross Cemetery

Burials in my family at Holy Cross Cemetery in Grand Rapids, Michigan span over 100 years. The last family member buried there was Thomas Peterson (my brother-in-law) in 2019. The first ones were Klementyna (Golabiowskia) Raczkiewicz (my grandfather’s first wife) and Bronislawa, their child in 1918. My Mother (and others) still tend to family gravesites in the cemetery. It was founded as the Polish Catholic Cemetery. The cemetery is pretty large, at 55 acres. It is located next to West Catholic High School, one of two Catholic high schools within the city of Grand Rapids. I grew up within walking distance of this cemetery. It is one of five Catholic Cemeteries run by the Diocese of Grand Rapids. One of the most notable people buried at Holy Cross was a Hall of Fame professional boxer known as the “Michigan Assassin.” He was born 1886 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to a Polish immigrant family and raised in West Michigan. He had his first professional fight in 1903. By 1910, his final total was 54 wins, 49 by knockout, with 4 losses and 4 draws. He was worn out from a fighting style that was fierce. He was murdered the same year, possibly by a jealous boyfriend of a woman he was involved with. His body was returned to Grand Rapids for the largest funeral ever in the city until that of ex-President Gerald R. Ford. Jan Raczkiewicz (my great uncle) was living in the Polish westside for a few months at the time period of this funeral. There are still mysteries to solve related to people buried in this cemetery. For instance, I recently had the pleasure of meeting sisters Joan Kessler and Susan VandenBerg. They are related to Andrzej Dubiel on his Dubiel side. I am related to Andrzej on his Raczkiewicz side. Anna and her husband Walter Roczniak, settled in northern Michigan after immigrating from Poland. They eventually ended up in Grand Haven, Michigan. There are six Dubiels buried in Grand Rapids -- are they related or is it from a different family? Also, there are a few Raczkiewicz that I do not know who they are and I can’t find my grandpa’s oldest brother here or anywhere else. They have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Holy-Cross-Cemetery-Mausoleum/115825171771369 Here is a link to search records within the cemetery: https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/738/holy-cross-cemetery