KAROLINA
WIKTOROWICZ
(nee
Domszy)
(1928-2014)
The Wiktorowicz family is heartbroken to
announce Karolina’s peaceful passing on Tuesday, July 8, 2014 at the age of 86,
surrounded by her family, after her long battle with cancer.
Karolina is survived by her husband
Henry;sister, Genia Liusz (Gregory) and all her children; eight grandchildren,
Barbara (Ben) and children Clare (Chris), Anna (Bryan) and Ruth Levin; Frank;
Cecilia (Maurice) and daughter Emmanuelle Arpin; Mary (Mark) and sons Evan and
Julien Garner; Paul; Hedy (John) and children, Chris and Leah Heppenstall.
Karolina is pre-deceased by her parents, Peter and Frances Domszy; sisters,
Helen Bator (Tony), Sophie Iskierski (Edward) and her brother, Joseph.
As a
Polish refugee who immigrated to Canada in 1949, Karolina’s life was
characterized by great adversity during her youth, followed by a peaceful and
happy life in much of her adulthood.
The second youngest of five (three sisters
and a brother), she was born in Ostrów Rzeszów, Poland, and resettled with her
family on the eastern side of Poland in 1935 on a farm in Kłodno Wielkie. In
February 1940, at the age of 12, she was deported with her family to Siberia
during World War II (Soviet German alliance in the invasion of Poland).
Karolina survived and when Amnesty was declared in June 1941 (Soviet Union
joined the Allies), she and her family travelled southward, in search of the
Polish Free Army. Due to starvation and a severe illness, her mother placed her
and her younger sister, Sophie, in a Polish orphanage in Uzbekistan. She
remained in the orphanage as it relocated several times to East Africa,
Rhodesia and Zambia. In 1948, Karolina, her mother and sister went to Britain
to be reunited with her family, then immigrated to Winnipeg, Canada to join her
father’s sister.
In Winnipeg, she worked in a garment factory
and soon met Henry, a Polish soldier who immigrated to Canada after
contributing to the Allied victory in Monte Casino. Married in 1951, they began
a new life together, surrounded by her extended family and a thriving Polish
community. In 1962 they moved to Transcona, and she worked part-time in her
husband’s upholstery business. Karolina was a loving, selfless, supportive
mother having had six children, eight grandchildren and one great
granddaughter. Her greatest joy was playing with and feeding her grandchildren.
She was a wonderful cook, especially known for her perogies and barszcz (beet
soup). She nurtured a deep spiritual
life and cherished many friendships. The family spent many happy summers at
their cottage on Lake Winnipeg. Karolina overcame breast cancer in her
mid-forties and thrived for another forty years. She gave generously to her
community by volunteering at St. Joseph the Worker and St Andrew Bobola
parishes, the Polish Veteran’s Association and Tache Nursing Home.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated
on Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at 11:00 a.m., in St. Joseph The Worker Roman
Catholic Church, 505 Brewster St, Transcona with Rev. Fr. Jan Spyrka presiding.
Interment will follow in the Holy Ghost Roman Catholic Cemetery, 4387 Main
Street.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in
Karolina’s memory to Ogniwo Polish Museum or WRHA Palliative Care Program c/o
St Boniface General Hospital.
Wojcik’s Funeral Chapel & Crematorium,
1020 Main Street, 204.586.8668, in care of arrangements.
wojciksfuneralchapel.com
Wojcik’s
FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORIUM
1020 MAIN STREET
204 - 586 - 8668
www.wojciksfuneralchapel.com
No comments:
Post a Comment