KATARZYNA MADEJCZYK (SMOLAK)

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KATARZYNA MADEJCZYK (nee SMOLAK) June 19, 1924 - June 3, 2007 Peacefully, with her family and close friends by her side, Katarzyna Madejczyk passed away in her 83rd year of life. She is survived by her loving husband of 49 years, Michal Madejczyk; brother Josef (Danuta) Smolak of Koszalin, Poland; daughters, Danuta (Wieslaw) Buzanowski, Bozena (Krzysztof) Basarab; grandchildren, Kathrine, Olia, Dorota and Tania; nieces and nephews, Katarzyna (Petro) Krolewski, Miroslawa (Miroslaw) Sidor, Zofia Rependa, Danuta Kurkoska, Wolodymyr, Stefan and Ola Szafran of Poland, Halyna Chalupa of Toronto, Katarzyna Grember and Maria Szafran of Lille, France, Michal Szafran of Germany, beloved niece Dozia Cieklinski; cousins, Walter Knysh and family of Winnipeg, Walter Mucha and family of New York; and other members of her extended family and friends. She was predeceased by her parents Maria and Jurko Smolak; her sister Marynia Szafran; brother-in-law Dmytro Szafran; and infant brother Michal. Katarzyna was born in Wola Matiaszowa, a small village in South Eastern Poland very close to the border with Ukraine. After surviving the ravages of the Second World War, Katarzyna along with many other members of the Ukrainian community in her village and surrounding area were forced under Akcia Wisla to resettle in North West Poland. She overcame incredible obstacles to settle in her new home, her family having been forced to leave Wola Matiaszowa with only the possessions they could manage to fit onto one wagon. She married Michal in 1958 and together they raised their children on a farm outside the village of Tagowie, Poland. Some 45 years after being resettled in Tagowie, Katarzyna along with her husband Michal were again resettled, immigrating to Winnipeg in 1991 to be closer to family that had been in Winnipeg for some time. Throughout her life, Katarzyna was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She was and will continue to be a model of kindness, patience, faith and love to all that knew her. The kind of suffering she endured in her life one can only imagine, and she did it without complaint, always helping others before worrying about herself. While Katarzyna's own education was interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War, she always encouraged family to learn as much as possible, and was very proud of the fact that all of her grandchildren attend university. She loved to work around the house, garden, mend clothing, and go for walks around her neighbourhood. Katarzyna was a deeply religious woman, loved to pray and attended church on a regular basis. Katarzyna, or Baba, as she was affectionately known by her grandchildren, moved to Holy Family Nursing Home in January 2007 due to ill health. The family would like to sincerely thank the staff at Holy Family Nursing Home, especially the staff on St. Mary's Ward, for the exceptional care that she received during her time there, and for the love and support that she and her family received in the last days of her life. The family also thanks all those persons who visited Katarzyna in her final days, for their prayers, love and support. Parastas will be sung on Wednesday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m. at Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic Church, 263 Fountain Street, Winnipeg. Divine Liturgy will be held on Thursday, June 7 at 10:30 a.m., also at Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic Church, with internment to follow at All Saints Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Krzysztof Basarab, Wieslaw Buzanowski, Josef Madejczyk, Miroslaw Madejczyk, Michal Kapeluch and Bohdan Kapeluch. Funeral Arrangements entrusted to Knysh Funeral Chapel, 1020 Main Street, Winnipeg. VICHNAYA PAM'YAT! MEMORY ETERNAL!

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 06, 2007