KAROLINA WIKTOROWICZ (DOMSZY) -

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

KAROLINA WIKTOROWICZ (nee DOMSZY) 1928 - 2014 The Wiktorowicz family is heartbroken to announce Karolina's peaceful passing on Tuesday, July 8, 2014 at the age of 86, surrounded by her family, after her long battle with cancer. Karolina is survived by her husband Henry; sister, Genia Liusz (Gregory) and all her children and eight grandchildren: Barbara (Ben) and children Clare (Chris), Anna (Bryan) and Ruth Levin; Frank; Cecilia (Maurice) and daughter Emmanuelle Arpin; Mary (Mark) and sons Evan and Julien Garner; Paul; Hedy (John) and children, Chris and Leah Heppenstall. Karolina is predeceased by her parents, Peter and Frances Domszy; sisters, Helen Bator (Tony), Sophie Iskierski (Edward), and her brother, Joseph. As a Polish refugee who immigrated to Canada in 1949, Karolina's life was characterized by great adversity during her youth, followed by a peaceful and happy life in much of her adulthood. The second youngest of five (three sisters and a brother), she was born in Ostrow Rzeszow, Poland, and resettled with her family on the eastern side of Poland in 1935 on a farm in Klodno Wielkie. In February 1940, at the age of 12, she was deported with her family to Siberia during the Second World War (Soviet German alliance in the invasion of Poland). Karolina survived and when Amnesty was declared in June 1941 (Soviet Union joined the Allies), she and her family travelled southward, in search of the Polish Free Army. Due to starvation and a severe illness, her mother placed her and her younger sister, Sophie, in a Polish orphanage in Uzbekistan. She remained in the orphanage as it relocated several times to East Africa, Rhodesia and Zambia. In 1948, Karolina, her mother and sister went to Britain to be reunited with her family, then immigrated to Winnipeg, Canada to join her father's sister. In Winnipeg, she worked in a garment factory and soon met Henry, a Polish soldier who immigrated to Canada after contributing to the Allied victory in Monte Casino. Married in 1951, they began a new life together, surrounded by her extended family and a thriving Polish community. In 1962 they moved to Transcona, and she worked part-time in her husband's upholstery business. Karolina was a loving, selfless, supportive mother having had six children, eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Her greatest joy was playing with and feeding her grandchildren. She was a wonderful cook, especially known for her perogies and barszcz (beet soup). She nurtured a deep spiritual life and cherished many friendships. The family spent many happy summers at their cottage on Lake Winnipeg. Karolina overcame breast cancer in her mid-40s and thrived for another 40 years. She gave generously to her community by volunteering at St. Joseph the Worker and St. Andrew Bobola parishes, the Polish Veteran's Association and Tache Nursing Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at 11:00 a.m., in St. Joseph The Worker Roman Catholic Church, 505 Brewster St., Transcona with Rev. Fr. Jan Spyrka presiding. Interment will follow in the Holy Ghost Roman Catholic Cemetery, 4387 Main Street. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Karolina's memory to Ogniwo Polish Museum or W.R.H.A. Palliative Care Program c/o St. Boniface General Hospital. Wojcik's Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, 1020 Main Street, 204-586-8668, in care of arrangements. wojciksfuneralchapel.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 12, 2014