Obituary of STANISLAWA IRENA GAWINSKI

STANISLAWA GAWINSKI

With profound sadness we announce, the passing of our matriarch (mama, babcia and babunia) Stanislawa Gawinski on Tuesday, December 15th, 2020 at 92¹/₂ years. She was surrounded by her family as she took her last breath and left this world on her own terms. She was the youngest of four and the last surviving child of Jozef and Rozalia Zachmacz.

Stanislawa is survived by her children, Miro (Dianne), Jadwiga-Jeannie Haskiewicz and Les; her grandchildren Dianne (John) Casar and Andrew Haskiewicz; great-granddaughters Izabella and Rozalia Casar; as well as numerous nieces and nephews in Poland. She was predeceased by daughter Krystyna, husband Marian, son-in-law Antoni Haskiewicz, her parents, brothers (Stanislaw and Kazimierz), sister (Eugenia), sisters and brothers in law, cousins, nephews and nieces in Canada and Poland.

Though her family resided in Lodz, Poland mama was born in nearby Rozniatowice. At the tender age of 11, when World War II broke out, she was taken out of school and forced to work in textiles, where she threw the shuttles and ran through the large looms due to her small stature. As a teenager, babcia was forced into a Nazi labour camp where her tenacious spirit and stubbornness lead her to escape the camp several times, find her way home and be taken right back to the camp. Her last escape at 16 years old proved successful and she made it home without being found. Following in the steps of her older siblings she became a Harcerka (Scout), and would later brag about this to her family telling many stories and singing campfire songs. Babcia set the example of how important Scouting was as the next three generations became involved in Harcerze and Girl Guides, the last being her great-granddaughters.

In November 1959, Stanislawa and Marian arrived in Winnipeg with their three young children to begin their new life. Working for many years as a seamstress she left her position to become a caregiver first to granddaughter Dianne and then grandson Andrew. In her later years, Babunia became co-caregiver to Izabella and Rozalia. Stanislawa was a devout Catholic and became a member of Holy Ghost Church upon her arrival in Winnipeg; teaching the next generations of her family their prayers. As a proud Polish woman, she sacrificed learning English fluently so that she could teach her children and grandchildren how to speak, read and write in Polish and instilled in them many Polish customs, traditions and culinary arts - mamas prazuchy are the best! After the loss of her husband Marian a new independent Stanislawa emerged; she obtained her driver's license at 60 and began travelling more with her family and friends.

Our family would like to thank Drs. Andrea and Terry Babick and the amazing staff at Holy Family Home (St. Francis and St. Luke wards) for their heartfelt care and compassion as well as keeping her COVID-19 free until her last breath.

Flowers are gratefully declined. Donations in Stanislawa's memory may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba or Heart and Stroke Manitoba.

Due to COVID restrictions and following public health guidelines, a private family service will be held at Holy Ghost Church with an Oblate Father officiating. She will be laid to rest beside her husband Marian at Holy Ghost Cemetery.

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