WANDA KRYSTYNA CHYCZEWSKI

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WANDA KRYSTYNA CHYCZEWSKI Brothers Marek (Mark) and Jacek (Jack) Chyczewski announce the sudden and peaceful passing of their beloved mother Wanda Krystyna Chyczewski on September 29, 2009 in White Rock, British Columbia, Canada. Wanda was an outstanding daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and citizen of the world. Her love and devotion to her sons held a place in the best part of her heart. Her love of family, her kind dedication to helping people in need, her ability to understand the human condition, her patience, her unwavering persistence, her personal accomplishments in education, her achievements in business and most notably her firmness of character will be missed by all. Wanda was born to Michal and Antonina Fulmyk on November 19, 1922 in Lomza, Poland. Her memory will be cherished by her son Marek and his wife Teresa of Chicago, Illinois, their daughter Malgorzata and her husband George Meichel of Miami, Florida and their children Matthew and Emily. As well her memory will be cherished by her son Jacek and his wife Lingyun Jia of Yorba Linda, California and their children Halina, Gregory, Michel (Mitch) and John. She will be deeply missed by her older brother Kazimierz Fulmyk and his wife Helena of London, England and their children Helen, Zbyszek, Leszek, Jedrek and Przemyslaw and their families. As well she will be deeply missed by her younger sister Janina Lorenc of Winnipeg and her children Krzysztof and Bozena and their families and also her sister-in-law Emilia Fulmyk also of Winnipeg and her children Witold and Anna and their families. She was predeceased by her husband Feliks Chyczewski in 1991 and her husband Jerzy Piekarski in 2001, her mother in 1985 and her father 1986, her brother Lech in 2000 and her brother-in-law Henryk Lorenc in 1997. While a young girl, Wanda lived in Poland until the outbreak of the Second World War. She and her family then survived the atrocities of a labour camp in Siberia. The family travelled through southwest Asia and settled in a refugee camp in Tanzania (Tanganyika) to await the outcome of the war. It was not the people but the experience of communism, which was the deciding factor not to return to Poland and instead they chose to sail to London, England. In 1948 Wanda married Feliks Chyczewski. They immigrated to southern Ontario where their sons were born. In 1954 from humble beginnings in Winnipeg, Mama worked as a cook for the Department of Immigration. She then enrolled in evening school and graduated in her studies of English and Chemistry. She then worked with Dr. L. Cohen of the University of Manitoba as a lab technician in a quest to find a cure for cancer. In 1965 she became involved in the home decorating business with George Piekarski and together they operated three retail outlets marketing carpet, draperies, upholstered goods and other home decorating products. In 1987 Mom retired and moved to White Rock, BC. Her mother Antonina instilled in Mom a deep faith in God which gave Mom the strength to meet all of life's challenges and overcome the many trials she was destined to face. She was a member of the Holy Ghost Church and the Polish Combatants Association (SPK). Mom was proud to live in the best country in the world, her new home and native land of Canada. She was one with nature exhibiting a child like joy as she enjoyed the flowers, trees and scenic mountains overlooking British Columbia's beautiful Pacific coast line. She was overjoyed when after 1989 she travelled to Poland to experience the rebirth of the spirit of freedom of her native land. Babi loved all her grandchildren and in 2007 travelled to Chicago to witness the christening of her first great-grandchild Matthew. Mom was also especially close to her niece Anna where she was known as Ciocia Banda to Dylan and Devon. Mom was fiercely independent and took care of herself to the very end. On her last day she drove herself to church attended Holy Mass, received Holy Communion and was anointed with Holy Oils. The day after her death Mass for the repose of Wanda's soul was celebrated at the Star of the Sea Parish in White Rock. Holy Mass for Mama's soul will be celebrated by an Oblate Father at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at the Holy Ghost Church Chapel. Mom wished to be cremated and her remains will be interred at the Holy Ghost Cemetery on North Main Street. Wieczny odpoczwywanie racz jej dac Panie. Although we already miss you Mama, we are at peace because we believe that our Lord's mercy and love will be your eternal joy and light.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 02, 2009