Condolence: Sorry to hear of your mother's passing. I have fond memories of your mom from the neighborhood. Your parents also travelled with my aunt and Uncle Joe and Doris Wholey. From their stories it seemed they enjoyed each other's company. Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Condolence: Babci was one of the sweetest, warmest people I have ever known. I loved her dearly and I am pretty certain that she loved me. She welcomed me to the Wojcik family immediately upon meeting everyone at a barbecue on Windward Road during the summer of 1996. I will never forget that we had London broil marinated in Ken’s Italian Salad Dressing and all the good things that go with barbecue.

I had formed a telephone relationship with Babci prior to ever meeting her in person. She would call my apartment looking for her son, Mark, my future husband. We had great talks. She was so wise and generous of spirit. Some of my fondest memories of Babci were sitting at her kitchen table having a slice of pie and talking about nothing and everything. Kindness was what exuded from this woman—always.

Babci always treated me the same no matter what Mark’s and my marital status was. She was a dignified person whose top priority was love. It’s how she approached everything as far as I could tell. She had the patience of Job and the love of a saint for her own family and those whom they loved. There was no end to her thoughtfulness. She loved Mark’s and my daughter Anna to distraction even when Alzheimer’s disease began steal her memory of who Anna was to her. She would always say, “I wish I had a granddaughter like her, she has a lot of pep”. Sad, but very sweet nevertheless. She loved to turn the organ on for Anna to play. She always had Keebler Fudge Stripes Original Cookies on hand for Anna’s visits. Anna renamed them Babci cookies.

One thing that really stands out to me is that Babci never forgot how to read and write Polish. I remember sitting her down at our home computer one weekend when she stayed with us during one of Dziadziu’s hospital stays. We looked at the Holy Trinity Website and Babci translated the Polish pages to me. She was already in the throes of Alzheimer’s but was sharp as a tack in many ways. She always knew her husband Stanley. She may have not known exactly who everyone one was or how they were related to her, but she knew her husband. It was endearing. They loved each other so much.

Babci, I began missing you many years ago when your memory began to fail. I have always loved you and always will. You always made me feel special and important no matter what. No mother-in-law jokes about you-never. You were the best a daughter-in-law could ever hope for.

I’m happy that you are in heaven with Dziadziu dancing at the heavenly version of the Norembega Ballroom and playing golf at a celestial course. Of course, all of this would be followed by a dinner of scampi or lobster.

Thank you for all of your kindness and generosity. You are greatly missed.

I love you eternally.

Lesley
xox