Grave of the Tokarzewski and Petrusewicz families
[lot C1 176CA ]
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Antonina
KARASZEWICZ-TOKARZEWSKA
( 1899-1976 )
KARASZEWICZ-TOKARZEWSKA
( 1899-1976 )
Born in Przemysl, trained as a teacher in Krakow. In 1916-1920 worked for a clandestine military organization in the struggle to regain Poland's independence. Married Lieutenant-Colonel Michal Tokarzewski (below) and devoted herself to social work on behalf of soldiers and their families, for which she received the highest distinctions in 1935 and 1937. After the outbreak of WWII and Poland's invasion by Soviet forces, she and her daughter Irena fled to Romania, then to France, and after France's fall to Great Britain. Meanwhile her husband, by then General Tokarzewski, was deported far into the USSR. From bombarded England, Antonina and her daughter were evacuated by sea to Canada in August 1940. In Montreal, she was very active in the Polish community, notably in the Committe to Aid children and in the Polish Canadian Congress. She died at the age of 77.
Michał
KARASZEWICZ-TOKARZEWSKI
(commemorated)
( 1893-1964 )
KARASZEWICZ-TOKARZEWSKI
(commemorated)
( 1893-1964 )
General in the Polish Army. Was born in Lwow, studied in Krakow, in 1914 joined Pilsudski's 'Legionnaires' fighting for Poland's independence. Became famous in 1918 for his courage in the defence of Lwow, for which he was awarded the Virtuti Militari Cross. Fought with distinction in the Polish-Soviet war 1918-1920, and from 1922 to 1924 underwent advanced military training in France. He then commanded an infantry division in Lwow, and was subsequently promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General.
During the German invasion in 1939, Tokarzewski was in command of successive Polish defence forces and, after the fall of Warsaw, he went into hiding, organizing a clandestine army of resistance. He was also instrumental in creating Poland's unique Underground State. In 1940 he was ordered to Lwow to direct resistance in eastern Poland under Soviet occupation, was arrested by NKVD, the Soviet secret police, imprisoned, and condemned under his assumed name to five years in a labour camp near Arkhangelsk in the USSR. Once his true identity was discovered, he was taken to Moscow's Lubianka prison where he underwent harsh interrogation. Liberated under the 1941 Sikorski-Majski Agreement, he joined General Anders' Polish Army, and in 1943 assumed the duties of Lieutenant-General and second-in-command of the Polish forces in the Middle-East. Throughout his career, General Tokarzewski was awarded top military honours and received the highest Polish and foreign distinctions.
Demobilized after the war, he lived in London, where he served in the Polish government-in-exile. Died at age 71 in Casablanca, Morocco and was buried in London's Brompton Cemetery whence his ashes, along with those of other prominent Polish leaders and heroes, were removed to Warsaw's historic Powazki cemetery in 1992.
During the German invasion in 1939, Tokarzewski was in command of successive Polish defence forces and, after the fall of Warsaw, he went into hiding, organizing a clandestine army of resistance. He was also instrumental in creating Poland's unique Underground State. In 1940 he was ordered to Lwow to direct resistance in eastern Poland under Soviet occupation, was arrested by NKVD, the Soviet secret police, imprisoned, and condemned under his assumed name to five years in a labour camp near Arkhangelsk in the USSR. Once his true identity was discovered, he was taken to Moscow's Lubianka prison where he underwent harsh interrogation. Liberated under the 1941 Sikorski-Majski Agreement, he joined General Anders' Polish Army, and in 1943 assumed the duties of Lieutenant-General and second-in-command of the Polish forces in the Middle-East. Throughout his career, General Tokarzewski was awarded top military honours and received the highest Polish and foreign distinctions.
Demobilized after the war, he lived in London, where he served in the Polish government-in-exile. Died at age 71 in Casablanca, Morocco and was buried in London's Brompton Cemetery whence his ashes, along with those of other prominent Polish leaders and heroes, were removed to Warsaw's historic Powazki cemetery in 1992.
Stanisław PETRUSEWICZ
( 1912-2005 )
( 1912-2005 )
Son-in-law of Antonina Tokarzewska (above), husband of Irena (below). Born in Wilno, studied naval engineering at the Gdansk Polytechnic, graduating in aviation engineering. Worked in Warsaw's Institute of Aviation Research. Escaped war-ravaged Poland in 1939 to reach the Polish armed forces in France. After the fall of France, escaped through Spain to Rio-de-Janeiro, then to New York and finally to Ottawa. Worked in a factory producing undercarriages for bomber planes. After the war married Irena Tokarzewska, settled in Montreal and in Fulford in the Eastern Townships. Worked at Wajax Co. Ltd, becoming successively Design Engineer, Chief of Design, Chief Engineer and Vice-President. Stan was also active in the Polish community and founded the Polish Engineers Association in Canada. He developed a friendship with Armand Bombardier, inventor of the skidoo, and over the years aided him and his firm with engine design and supplies. Died at age 92.
Irena PETRUSEWICZ
( 1919-2006 )
( 1919-2006 )
Daughter of Antonina (above) and Michal Tokarzewski, wife of Stanislaw (above). Born and educated in Poland. At the outbreak of war in 1939, fled with her mother to Romania, to France, and then to England. Was evacuated to Canada in 1940. In Montreal, became a very active member of the Polish community, and an avid suppporter of the Polish Library. At the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, she introduced the tradition of Christmas trees decorated by the city's diverse ethnic communities. She and her husband led a thriving social life both in their Montreal home and at a beloved converted school-house in Fulford. Irena died at the age of 86, a year after the death of her husband.