Grave of the Bożeniec-Jełowicki family
[lot C1 183 ]
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Zofia BOŻENIEC-JEŁOWICKA
born GIECZEWICZ
( 1895-1986 )
born GIECZEWICZ
( 1895-1986 )
Born and raised on her family's estate in eastern Poland. Her father, a general in the tsarist army, was killed in the Russian Revolution. Zofia was educated in Switzerland. In 1913, she married Tadeusz Bozeniec-Jelowicki, with whom she had three children, Jadwiga, Janina and Zdzislaw. They settled in Poland after WWI. Fluent in French and Italian, Zofia worked in international commissions dealing with plebiscites on newly-independent Poland's western borders. After divorcing her husband, who later died in a Soviet Gulag, Zofia and her children lived in Lwow.
On the outbreak of WWII she managed to take them to Rome and then France. During the German occupation, Zofia and her daughter Jadwiga joined the underground resistance, helping some 300 Polish soldiers and airmen escape through Spain to England. The two women were arrested in Lourdes and spent 9 months in a German concentration camp in Gaillac.
After the war they lived in Italy, France and England and in 1953 emigrated to Canada with Jadwiga's family. In Montreal, Zofia was actively involved in Polish community and social organizations. She died at age 91.
On the outbreak of WWII she managed to take them to Rome and then France. During the German occupation, Zofia and her daughter Jadwiga joined the underground resistance, helping some 300 Polish soldiers and airmen escape through Spain to England. The two women were arrested in Lourdes and spent 9 months in a German concentration camp in Gaillac.
After the war they lived in Italy, France and England and in 1953 emigrated to Canada with Jadwiga's family. In Montreal, Zofia was actively involved in Polish community and social organizations. She died at age 91.
Witold BOŻENIEC-JEŁOWICKI
( 1904-1977 )
( 1904-1977 )
Son-in-law of Zofia (above), Witold was born in Finland, his father being a Polish businessman in St-Petersburg, Russia. Both Witold and his older brother Stefan were educated in Belgium. In 1920, after the Russian Revolution, the family settled in Poland. Witold graduated in Forestry in Warsaw in 1926, and worked on transatlantic steamers in the Gdynia-America Line.
Mobilized in 1939, he was taken prisoner by the Soviets and deported to camps deep in the USSR. He joined the newly-forming Polish army under General Anders, was evacuated to Persia, Iraq and Palestine, underwent military training in Jerusalem, was then stationed in Egypt. In 1943, his brother Stefan was murdered by the Gestapo in Poland. Witold fought in the Italian campaign, including at Monte Cassino, Ancona and Bolonia, was awarded many military distinctions. Next served as staff officer in Italy and Great Britain, where his knowlege of six languages proved very useful. In 1946, he married a distant cousin, Jadwiga Bozeniec-Jelowicka, widow of Jan Lukasiewicz and adopted her son, Krystian.
Witold was demobilized in Britain in 1949 and emigrated to Canada in 1953 with his family. In Montreal, he worked at RCA Victor, Pratt & Whitney, Kingsway Transport and Ogilvy's. He died aged 72.
Mobilized in 1939, he was taken prisoner by the Soviets and deported to camps deep in the USSR. He joined the newly-forming Polish army under General Anders, was evacuated to Persia, Iraq and Palestine, underwent military training in Jerusalem, was then stationed in Egypt. In 1943, his brother Stefan was murdered by the Gestapo in Poland. Witold fought in the Italian campaign, including at Monte Cassino, Ancona and Bolonia, was awarded many military distinctions. Next served as staff officer in Italy and Great Britain, where his knowlege of six languages proved very useful. In 1946, he married a distant cousin, Jadwiga Bozeniec-Jelowicka, widow of Jan Lukasiewicz and adopted her son, Krystian.
Witold was demobilized in Britain in 1949 and emigrated to Canada in 1953 with his family. In Montreal, he worked at RCA Victor, Pratt & Whitney, Kingsway Transport and Ogilvy's. He died aged 72.
Jadwiga BOŻENIEC-JEŁOWICKA
( 1915-1994 )
( 1915-1994 )
Daughter of Zofia (above), born in eastern Poland, young Jadwiga often travelled to Italy and France, and spoke French, Ukraininian, English and Russian. In 1937 she married Jan Lukasiewicz (later killed under the German occupation in 1944).
At war's outbreak in 1939, Jadwiga left Poland together with her baby son, Krystian, her mother and her siblings. Via Romania, Yugoslavia and Italy, they reached France. There, under German occupation, Jadwiga and her mother joined the resistance movement and helped more than 300 Allied airmen and soldiers escape to England via Spain. Arrested by the Germans, the two women spent nine months in the Gaillac concentration camp.
In 1946 Jadwiga married her distant cousin, Witold (above), who also adopted her son Krystian. The family moved to England, where Jadwiga's second son, Stefan, was born in 1949. After emigrating to Canada in 1953, Jadwiga worked in Montreal at Ogilvy's and W.H. Reeves. She died at age 78.
At war's outbreak in 1939, Jadwiga left Poland together with her baby son, Krystian, her mother and her siblings. Via Romania, Yugoslavia and Italy, they reached France. There, under German occupation, Jadwiga and her mother joined the resistance movement and helped more than 300 Allied airmen and soldiers escape to England via Spain. Arrested by the Germans, the two women spent nine months in the Gaillac concentration camp.
In 1946 Jadwiga married her distant cousin, Witold (above), who also adopted her son Krystian. The family moved to England, where Jadwiga's second son, Stefan, was born in 1949. After emigrating to Canada in 1953, Jadwiga worked in Montreal at Ogilvy's and W.H. Reeves. She died at age 78.