Charlotte September

Charlotte (Zralka) September, 96, of Fountain Hills, passed into the presence of our Lord, in her home, on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014. Charlotte was born in Chicago, Ill. to Polish immigrants Albert and Antonina Zralka on Oct. 3, 1917.

She lived in Chicago for most of her life where she met and married Frank September on April 19, 1936. Charlotte worked as a telephone operator for Bell Systems for several years before she and her husband built and operated “Charlotte’s Truck Stop” in Chicago.

It was there that Charlotte discovered her love of cooking and feeding others. It didn’t take long before Charlotte was not only feeding the truck drivers passing through town but also the local businessmen who would flock to the truck stop at lunchtime for Charlotte’s home cooked meals.

After the death of her husband, and to be near family, Charlotte moved to Fountain Hills in 1982 where she lived until her passing. She enjoyed life to the fullest, never missing out on fun because of her age.

While at Gilley’s in Texas, when others much younger declined, Charlotte rode the mechanical bull and enjoyed all 8 seconds. She tried waterskiing at 69, rode a jet ski at 70 and cruised the streets on the back of a Harley Davidson with her grandson at the age of 87. We have always said, and will continue to say, “We want to be just like Charlotte when we grow up.”

She loved card games, board games, puzzles and Bingo. You knew it was going to be a long night of fun when she walked into a room with a game in her hand. And babies, oh how she loved babies. Her soft, affectionate arms were made to cradle, rock and pat babies to sleep.

Charlotte loved her family with a quiet, compassionate nature and we were all her greatest accomplishment. She led with her actions; actions that will be remembered and called upon by us forever. She was the heart of our family. We are graciously blessed by the gentle, caring and influential matriarch that she was. She leaves a legacy that will be treasured by us all.

Charlotte is preceded in death by her husband, Frank Sr., all of her seven siblings, her daughter-in-law, Terry; and her grandson, David.

Left to cherish her memory are her three children, Geri Lammlein (Helmut), Frank Jr. (Terry), Paula Johnson (Kent); her niece, Patty Hlebek (John), who she loved and adored as her own; her brother-in-law, Martin Wrzesien (Janet); eight grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, one great-great granddaughter and a multitude of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and church family.

Final arrangements were handled by Messinger Mortuary of Fountain Hills. There was a viewing at Messengers Sept. 12. Charlotte’s life and legacy was celebrated at a funeral service on Sept. 13 at Fountain Hills Christian Center. A final committal was at Holy Redeemer Cemetery in Phoenix immediately following.