HELENA ZYSK

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HELENA ZYSK We, the family of Helena Zysk, wish to announce her passing and a celebration of her life. She passed away on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at 12:04 a.m. She was predeceased by her husband, Frank Zysk. She leaves one daughter, Alice Landry, son-in-law Maurice, grandson Frank, grand-daughter-in-law Sheri, granddaughter Stephanie, grand-son-in-law Dan, grandson Richard, and great- grandson Evan, and nieces and nephews. She was born in Byten, Poland. As a young student, a teenager during the Second World War, she was ordered onto a train and sent to Germany for forced labour. She was very fortunate because she was sent to a hospital to help care for the wounded. She learned compassion and empathy there and never regretted her time spent in the hospital. After the war ended, she was sent to a Polish refugee camp where she met a dashing young Polish soldier who had been a prisoner of war. Mom and dad married and lived in Germany for a number of years. After the war, the Iron Curtain descended. Byten was in eastern Poland, which the newly formed Soviet Union annexed. Mom never saw her family again. Mom and dad felt that there was no future for refugees in Germany. With a newborn baby, they applied for immigration to Canada. Dad applied under a new Canadian program, where a person could have passage paid to Canada if he/ she worked for one year on a farm in Canada. Dad left his daughter and his young wife and went to Canada. Mom and I joined him a year later, as he had managed to pay back his transportation and even bought a car. He picked us up at the Union Station on Main Street in Winnipeg. Mom and dad worked hard, did well, and accomplished a lot. Unfortunately, dad had a tragic accident and was confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life - Mom was our beacon, our lighthouse. Our home was filled with music, laughter, and love. We were three, but we were strong. After dad passed away, mom made it her mission to raise her grandchildren to be good people. She lived with us for a number of years, teaching the children their first words, teaching them to be strong, independent thinkers. Her legacy remains. Her grandchildren are indeed wonderful people. Alzheimer's disease started to take her away from us a few years ago. Even though she had Alzheimer's and began to forget many things, she influenced our lives so much She still loved music. She was a lady always. Her smile, her humming when she heard a beautiful song, her graciousness made me proud to be her daughter. Mom spent her last eight years at St. Joseph's Residence. I would like to thank the staff members at St. Joseph's who think with their hearts as well as with their minds. I would like to thank also the dining room staff for their kindness. Goodness is never forgotten. To those who know someone with Alzheimer's, don't stop visiting because the person no longer remembers your name or your face. The brain forgets, but the heart remembers. The viewing and Rosary will be at Holy Ghost Roman Catholic Church, 341 Selkirk Avenue on Monday, October 1 at 10:00 a.m and the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Interment to follow in Holy Ghost Cemetery. The pallbearers will be Kaz Zysk, Stan Zysk, Edmund Kowalski, Dan Skakun, Frank Landry, and Richard Landry. CROPO FUNERAL CHAPEL 586-8044

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 29, 2007