EMILIA KROSTA

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EMILIA (EMILY) KROSTA (nee SWIDERSKI) September 3, 1936 - March 24, 2015 Mom was born in Lwow, Poland shortly before the Second World War, a town now known as Lviv, Ukraine. As a small child she, along with her brother and her mother Agnes Swiderski (nee Dawidowicz) were sent off to a concentration camp in Siberia for two years; then shipped to the then country of Tanganyika, Africa (Tanzania) where the family settled for six years in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro off in the distance. From there the family was shipped to England where they spent four years before landing on the shores of Canada at Halifax; having been sponsored by a cousin and continuing their journey of upheaval to Winnipeg in 1952. The Swiderski family stayed in a one bedroom suite for a period of time before they purchased their first Canadian home on Aberdeen where Mom worked to help support the family. Here Mom met Tato and at 19 married (Jerzy / George) on May 5, 1956 at Holy Ghost Church and proudly became Mrs. Krosta with her brother Kaz in the wedding party. Shortly thereafter came their daughter Krysia and then came the purchase of the only home we have ever known, where Momma passed away, on Burrows Avenue. A few years later Edizo came along and into the loving care of who will always be our momma. Momma / Baba had so much love in her heart, was so unselfish and giving that she dedicated her life to help raise and care for all of her grandchildren Jaime, then Evan and Colin (helping Krysia and Neil) to instill in them the kindness, caring, loving and compassion that helped them all become upstanding and wonderful adults and proud parents of their own as Jaime and Luc are with Erika (granddaughter) who had the benefit of many years of knowing Baba's loving ways as well as Ella had for a short time (Colin and Brynne's daughter), as well as all the love she showered on my children: Alexander, Dana, Samantha and the twins Steven and Ryan. Also familiar with the frequent treats and the hugs and kisses Momma was famous for. While distance may have prevented regular interaction, she truly loved her nieces and nephew in Toronto and their children Elizabeth's - Taylor and Erin and Joanne's - Emerson and Noah. So much love, for so many people with her quick wit and smile to all that were close to her as well as those fortunate enough to have met her to touch their lives as they did to her in return... She was the ultimate of unselfish and respect for others and will be deeply missed by all who met and interacted with her... Mom lost her tato early in my life and her mom in July 2004. Only three years later Tato passed in July of 2007. Mom now is in a better place with the lord and free of the difficulties her last few years were with health. Thank-you to all the WHRA staff who helped care for her while she stayed, right up to the end in the only home we've known....and will never forget... We all have a huge hole in our hearts, and an emptiness that will never be filled... With all our love... Mom and tato's legacy lives on.. Krysia (Neil) and Edizo as well through the love of all the others .. grandchildren: Jaime (Luc); Evan (Candace); Colin (Brynne); Alexander; Dana-Marie, Samantha, Steven and Ryan; great-grandchildren: Erika and Ella; brother Kaz (Irene), their children Elizabeth, Ed and Joanne as well as their kids Taylor, Erin, Emerson and Noah. Prayers will be held on Monday, March 30, at 7:00 p.m. at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main Street. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 31 at 2:30 p.m. at St. John Cantius' Church, 846 Burrows Avenue with interment to follow in Holy Ghost Cemetery, 4387 Main St., West St. Paul, MB. There will be a reception / celebration of her life following the cemetery at the Red River Community Centre, 293 Murray Ave (right on Main Street on the way back in to the city). CROPO FUNERAL CHAPEL 204-586-8044

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 28, 2015