Stacey's Mom & Dad
Life long residences of Milwaukee's souf (yup, you have to say it like that) side, Greg and Sharon met while working at American Motors and are the proud parents of two pretty spectacular kids, Jason and Stacey. Hard-working, caring and down-to-earth, they have always been both sounding board and friends to their children. Sharon is head chef and interior designer extraordinaire and Greg enjoys his music and movies while always making sure his outfits match from head to toe. They employ an open-door and open-kitchen policy and never say no whenever assistance is needed most. Whether it is watching Mort or their four grandchildren, without hesitation, they are always willing to lend a helping hand.
Mark's Mom
Growing up the youngest of six, Barb lived in Nordeast (local pronunciation) Minneapolis. Raised around the restaurant biz and entrenched in the Slovak tradition, she met the love of her life, Mike when he would hang around at her mom's restaurant, Rabatin's Cafe. Fast forward and four kids (Stephanie, Mark, David and Sarah) later, Barb is now the matriarch of the Pawlyshyn family after losing Mike to a short battle with pancreatic cancer when he was only 66. She is both cook and keeper of the faith for the family, just like her mother. She stays busy keeping tabs on her kids and four grandchildren and enjoys spending time at the family cabin in the summer months. Her home is always open and her kindness is unwavering. Best of all, her belief in the goodness of others is inspirational.
Best Woman
Childhood friends? More like sisters separated at birth. Nikki has been part of Stacey's "crew" and one of her best friends since their first days on the softball diamond in high school. Hilarious, confident and vivacious, Nikki is also generous and loving. She is tough and sweet and that is most apparent as a mother of three wonderful kids. The best part is that her and Stacey not only share the same crazy sense of humor, but they also share some pretty slick dance moves. Be sure to show up to the celebration and see for yourself! CW/OT 4 Life! Yes, that's an inside girls message.
Best Man
Whether David is fighting fires or spending time with his two boys, he is always giving back; something that makes him one of our favorite people. Like most brothers, playing sports, joking around and getting into trouble was a daily experience. David and Mark even went to the same college in Wisconsin and continued to hang out until they were like 22 or 23 (nobody is counting on how long they stayed in school). Very little from those early days have changed and they still remain best friends. David now resides in Las Vegas but they stay in touch daily pinning for a championship for any Minnesota sports teams. If you know someone who can make that happen, they would love you forever!
Officiant
Generous, kind hearted and funny. And, that is just the tip of the iceberg to describe this amazingly strong and supportive friend and family member. Growing up within a bike ride of each other and attending the same high school, the Gallaghers and Noel have been more than just your average cousins to the Pawlyshyn family; some would say siblings from another mutha (or something like that). We feel extremely blessed to have her guide us into this next wonderful chapter. Over the years, her travels have taken her to some pretty cool places. From Iceland and Singapore to Bali and Belize, we are excited to have her add Wauwatosa to her list of exotic adventures.
Our champion
Not only is Prue extremely helpful, thoughtful and genuine, but she is also very knowledgeable, eloquent and a talented golfer. Blessed with the ability to look at situations holistically, Prue has been Stacey's friend, confidant and consultant on all of her biggest life decisions. She is also the families on-call nurse and graciously does her best to help keep everyone healthy, happy and living their best lives. Because she is only a few miles apart from Stacey and they have traveled the world and escaped some treacherous experiences, their bond is stronger than just your average aunt and niece.
Our Go To
From the moment we decided to plan our event in Wauwatosa, Stephanie has been the driving factor in making it a reality. She is part of Stacey’s high school crew and has never wavered when her help was needed most. Planner extraordinaire, a fantastic mother of three and rock star at night (literally...she is an extremely talented singer), she has helped make our event what it should be - special. In those moments when you feel like passing along a compliment, be sure to find Stephanie and give her a hug; she deserves them for all her hard work. Oh yeah, maybe she will bust one of her favorite songs. CW/OT for life! Again, it’s an inside thang.
Proud Puppy
Man's best friend? More like Stacey's best friend. Brought home from the Milwaukee Humane Society twelve years ago, it is safe to say that it was Mortimier who rescued Stacey. Regardless of what he is called, Mort, Mouka, Mouka Moo, Pizza Slice Ears, the two have been partners in crime ever since their fateful encounter. One tough cookie and a "true" foodie, his unconditional love and friendship inspires Stacey to want to adopt every dog. Thankfully Mort has graciously adopted Mark. They both enjoy going on walks trying to solve life's biggest challenges and discussing the perils of Minnesota sports teams.