LEOKADIA MASLANKA

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LEOKADIA MASLANKA Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Thursday, November 30, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. in St. John Brebeuf Roman Catholic Church, 1707 John Brebeuf Place. Interment followed in Assumption Roman Catholic Cemetery, 3990 Portage Avenue. Wojcik's Funeral Chapels & Crematoriums, Winnipeg, 2157 Portage Avenue, 204.897.4665 www.wojciksfuneralchapel.com
Publish Date: Dec 2, 2017

LEOKADIA MASLANKA With dignity and grace, Leokadia Maslanka, of Winnipeg, passed away on Wednesday, November 22, 2017, at the age of 91 years. Left to embrace Leokadia's memory are her sons Dan (Debra) and Richard (Susan); grandchildren Ben (Melissa), Nick, Kerri and Evan; nephew Richard Kleban (Sandra); and nieces Krystyna Cox and Caroline Butrymowicz of Nottingham, England. She was predeceased in the recent past by her husband Michael July 26, 2014; brother Jan (Nottingham, England); sisters Helena (Russia), and Zofia (Emil Kleban, Winnipeg). Passing at very early ages were her young siblings Maria, Regina, Janina, Karolina and Edward. Leokadia was born in Wolafka, Poland, on February 15, 1926, to Jan and Natalia Butrymowicz. She was the third eldest of nine children. In 1939, barely a teenager and taking on responsibilities as the eldest child, Leokadia and family, comprised now of her mother, father, siblings Jan, Zofia, Helena, Janina and Karolina, were forcibly taken, and transported by boxcar to the Soviet Union at the inception of the Second World War. Amongst this difficult and most traumatic unfolding, invoked by the horror of war and mercilessly imposed upon their life's journey, Leokadia and family experienced the tragedy and loss of Janina (1934 to 1941) and Karolina (1936 to 1942), and the separation from the family of Helena (1933 to 199?), who remained captive in the Soviet Union until her passing. With resiliency and renewed hope, after enduring unimaginable hardship, Leokadia and her remaining family made their way through Iran to Africa to the safety of Great Britain. In 1944 she enlisted in the Polish Auxiliary Air Force, a contingent of the R.A.F., where she was given the rank of aircraft-woman first class, servicing aircraft as a flight mechanic of airframes, and meritoriously awarded the War Medal and Polish Air Force Medal. In 1946, Leokadia met and married Michael, who also served in the Polish Air Force as a flight sergeant, and shared the same R.A.F. station of Hucknall in Nottingham. As allied veterans, both were presented with British citizenship - a gesture of indebtedness to the Polish people who defended Great Britain. Following their immigration to Canada, Leokadia and Michael began their new family in Winnipeg, residing in a modest but spacious bungalow in River Heights. Leokadia developed a passion for being a homemaker and gardener. She was an especially talented cook, and excelled at making traditional Polish dishes and baking. She loved special occasions at the family home such as Easter, Christmas, and Thanksgiving, where her family and her sister Zofia's family would congregate around a table filled with a bountiful feast. Leokadia was a kind and generous person, who contributed to the church, and numerous charities. Developing out of the fondness for her pets, Puss-Puss, and her dog Gypsy, and the empathy for disadvantaged animals, she regularly donated to the Winnipeg Humane Society. Through experiencing the trauma of hardship, Leokadia understood what it meant to go without. She was a devoted wife, a caring and generous mother and grandmother, who never refused nor failed to provide for her family. Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated on Thursday, November 30, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. in St. John Brebeuf Roman Catholic Church, 1707 John Brebeuf Place. Interment will follow in Assumption Roman Catholic Cemetery, 3990 Portage Avenue. The family is grateful and appreciative to Charleswood Care Centre and Seven Oaks Hospital for the compassion and care provided to Leokadia. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Winnipeg Humane Society. Wojcik's Funeral Chapels & Crematoriums, Winnipeg, 2157 Portage Avenue, 204.897.4665 www.wojciksfuneralchapel.com
Publish Date: Nov 28, 2017

LEOKADIA MASLANKA On Wednesday, November 22, 2017, Leokadia passed away at Seven Oaks Hospital, at the age of 91 years. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, November 30, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Brebeuf Roman Catholic Church, 1707 John Brebeuf Place. A longer obituary notice will follow. Wojcik's Funeral Chapels & Crematoriums, Winnipeg, 2157 Portage Avenue, 204.897.4665 www.wojciksfuneralchapel.com
Publish Date: Nov 25, 2017

LEOKADIA MASLANKA On Wednesday, November 22, 2017, Leokadia passed away at Seven Oaks Hospital at the age of 91 years. A longer obituary notice will follow. Wojcik's Funeral Chapels & Crematoriums, Winnipeg, 2157 Portage Avenue, 204.897.4665 www.wojciksfuneralchapel.com

Publish Date: Nov 24, 2017

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 02, 2017