Obituary of JANINA OTYLIA SMOLENSKI

JANINA OTYLIA SMOLENSKI (ZARADKIEWICZ) September 10, 1937-December 25, 2013 Janina passed away with grace and dignity at Riverview Health Centre. She was predeceased by her parents, Jozef and Leokadia Zaradkiewicz, and her husband of 38 years, Julian. Janina leaves to cherish her memory a large family in Poland a smaller family in Canada and many friends in Canada and Poland. Janina was born in Karnewo, Poland, where she happily finished her early school years there close to family. She completed her high school in Warsaw and started her career there. Her most memorable jobs were as an administrative assistant with the Centre of Excellence for Doctors and at a Primary school. Children always had a special hold on her heart and this love was grown during the summers as a counselor and tutor at a camp for children and youth near Ciechanow. Early in 1970 Janina came to Canada to visit her aunts, she met Julian and they were married that December. They spent many happy times at the family cabin at Caddy Lake, canoeing, boating, fishing, picking blueberries and mushrooms. Upon Julian’s retirement they moved to the warmer climates of Penticton BC where they spent 17 years making many new friends and entertaining old friends and family. Wanting to be closer to family they moved back to Winnipeg in the spring of 2008. Julian’s death that fall was very difficult for Janina. Her house was always a welcoming point for many immigrants who were always given any support possible. Her kind, quiet, playful demeanor could win over the most difficult of personalities. We would like to thank the staff at Riverview Health Centre 3E and also Health Science GH5 for their attention and caring during her stay. We have lost a wonderful friend and advocate – may she rest in peace. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, January 6 at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Ghost Roman Catholic Church, 341 Selkirk Ave. with an Oblate Father officiating, with Rosary beginning at 9:30 a.m. Interment will follow in Elmwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be: Kevin Mogk, Michael Mogk, Myles Mogk, Marek Smolenski, Jacek Switala, Isabella Szostak. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, donations in memory of Janina may be made to a Children’s Charity, or a charity of choice.