Grave of the Żejmo family
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Weronika NOWICKA
( 1887-1974 )
( 1887-1974 )
Mother of Waleria and Weronika Zejmo-Revelins (below). Was a talened singer and musician born in south-east Poland. In 1910 married Dominik Zejmo and lived in Wilno till 1939, later in Ketrzyn. After her husband's death, Weronika came to Canada to be with her daughters Maria and Waleria. Died in Montreal at age 87.
Waleria (Wala) ŻEJMO
( 1918-2004 )
( 1918-2004 )
Daughter of Weronika et Dominik Zejmo. During the war, earned her living in Lodz by singing in night clubs. With her two sons, joined her sister Maria in Montreal in the 1960's. Both singers, they performed in a musical quartet travelling in the US and recorded an album in Chicago. Wala gave up her performing career to become a dress designer. In her old age she moved to Edmonton to be with her son, and died there at age 86.
Maria ŻEJMO-REVELINS
( 1916-2008 )
( 1916-2008 )
Daughter of Weronika and Dominik Zejmo, born near Wilno. Started her singing career in 1935 and became popular in Poland as a performer and radio artist. In Latvia during the war she met and married her husband, artist Eugeniusz Revelins.
In 1944 both were deported to Germany for forced labour in a munitions factory. Upon liberation by American forces, they were recruited by USO, the United Services Organization, to entertain Allied troops throughout Austria, Germany, France and Luxemburg. After emigrating to Canada in 1948, Maria continued her career as a singer in Montreal clubs and on radio, making her debut in 1953 on CBC in the program Gypsy Trails, as well as on CKVL and CFMB.
A member of ACTRA and the Musicians' Guild of Montreal, she also performed in theater and cinema.
In 1967 she launched 'Biedronki', an all-girls' singing and dancing show which travelled for 13 years throughout Canada, the USA and Poland, winning a Folklorama prize in Winnipeg in 1974, and a first prize in Poland's International Festival of Song and Dance in 1977.
Maria was awarded the Polish Canadian Congress' Gold Medal for her promotion of Polish culture in Canada and abroad.
At 90, she moved to Mississauga to live with her daughter Diana, with whom she also performed in the Vocalmotion group, almost right up to the time of her death at 92.
In 1944 both were deported to Germany for forced labour in a munitions factory. Upon liberation by American forces, they were recruited by USO, the United Services Organization, to entertain Allied troops throughout Austria, Germany, France and Luxemburg. After emigrating to Canada in 1948, Maria continued her career as a singer in Montreal clubs and on radio, making her debut in 1953 on CBC in the program Gypsy Trails, as well as on CKVL and CFMB.
A member of ACTRA and the Musicians' Guild of Montreal, she also performed in theater and cinema.
In 1967 she launched 'Biedronki', an all-girls' singing and dancing show which travelled for 13 years throughout Canada, the USA and Poland, winning a Folklorama prize in Winnipeg in 1974, and a first prize in Poland's International Festival of Song and Dance in 1977.
Maria was awarded the Polish Canadian Congress' Gold Medal for her promotion of Polish culture in Canada and abroad.
At 90, she moved to Mississauga to live with her daughter Diana, with whom she also performed in the Vocalmotion group, almost right up to the time of her death at 92.