Obituary of WANDA DREWNIAK-DRUL

WANDA DREWNIAK-DRUL It is with deep sorrow and sadness that we announce the passing of our dear Sister, Aunt and Great Aunt on Friday, December 4, 2015, following a lengthy illness. She suffered much in silence, she fought so hard to stay, her last few years were difficult; she endured unnecessary stress which caused her health to decline dramatically. Wanda was born in Poland on September 18, 1937 in the village of Postolowka, province of Tarnopol. She was predeceased by her sister Jozefa in 1948, father Jozef in 1996, mother Franciszka in 2007 and husband Boris in 2015. Wanda will be lovingly remembered and truly missed by her brother Tadeusz (Ted) Drewniak and his wife Elizabeth, granddaughter Sonia Drewniak-Puzio and her husband Pawel, great nephew Nathaniel, as well as numerous relatives and friends in Canada and Poland. She never had a sweet childhood. At the age of 7, she witnessed many atrocities in Eastern Poland. Her family was driven out of their village, forced to leave everything behind in the late fall of 1945. She helped her mother by caring for her young brother and sister as they travelled for three weeks by cargo railway, plus six weeks of waiting in the winter, in a bed made of straw, for the train to arrive. It brought them to the western side of Poland, not far from the German border (Lubiszyn). In 1955, Wanda graduated with honors receiving her teaching degree. She had the highest marks in school, which exempted her from the final exam. She went on and began teaching History and the Polish language. In 1966, she was honored a Gold Cross from the Ministry of Education for all her hard work and accomplishments. She never joined any communism, socialism or any government party. She was very patriotic to her country and always worried about its future up to the end. Wanda’s brother sponsored her to immigrate to Canada in 1977, late fall. Here she taught the Polish language at Holy Ghost School. Shortly after, she met Boris, they married and moved to Oakburn, MB, where she lived and worked hard for 25 years on their farm. Wanda sponsored her parents to Canada in May 1981, where they lived together and helped on the farm. Since childhood she was always a very hard working person, never took time for herself and was devoted to her family, the Roman Catholic Church and Polish culture. She took care of her parents right to the end, making sure they had a comfortable life. In the summer of 2002 Wanda moved to Winnipeg in her custom built home, where they enjoyed a few years of living in the city. There she was a member of the association of Polish Kombat #13. Wanda also had a passion for animals and over the years took care of many cats and dogs. She leaves behind her dearest cat Mruczek, who always kept her company. We are thankful to Home Care Services for their help and truly appreciate the paramedics, doctors, nurses and staff at the Concordia Hospital for looking after Wanda and for their kindness, sympathy and understanding offered to us in such a difficult time. Thank-you to Fr. Wojciech Wojtkowiak for coming to the hospital and for the last rights. Her family thanks you God for giving us such a strong, wonderful sister, aunt and great aunt. We have been blessed by her love and will continue with her legacy. So many times we will miss you, so many times we will cry, You were taken from us too soon, too suddenly. If our love could have saved you, you never would have died. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, December 12 at 10:00 a.m. with Rosary at 9:30 a.m. at Holy Ghost Roman Catholic Church, 341 Selkirk Ave. with an Oblate Father officiating. Interment will follow in Holy Ghost Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jan Drewniak, Pawel Puzio, Mark Lenchuk, Mike Lenchuk and Michael West. Wieczny Odpoczynek Racz Jej Dac, Panie