Grave of the Pater family
[lot C1 654B ]
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Michel PATER
( 1920-1989 )
( 1920-1989 )
Born in Poland, son of a miner, his family emigrated to a mining region in France when Michel was 4. In 1940, he enrolled in the Polish armed forces in England and served on Polish Navy destroyers, then studied engineering in London. Emigrated to Quebec in the 50's, worked as an engineer in Montreal and Manicouagan. In 1961, married Krystyna Tymicka. In the 70's and 80's owned Mericor Engineering and Café Martin. Died suddenly in Cannes, France, mourned by his wife and 3 children, Janusz, Stefan and Lidia.
Krystyna PATER
born TYMICKA
( 1937-2015 )
born TYMICKA
( 1937-2015 )
Born in Lwow, Poland. At the age of 4, she was deported with her family to the USSR, first to labour camps in Siberia then to Uzbekistan. Her father having died there, she was separated from her mother and rescued in one of the Polish orphanages created in the vicinity of General Anders' Army. The little girl was next part of a contingent of 500 Polish children invited to India by the Maharadjah of Nawangar. He built them and their educators a comfortable compound of lodgings, schools and all the necessary facilities in Jamnagar, close to his own residence, and looked after their care and education until the end of the war. In 1947, nine-year old Krysia and her group were briefly transferred to a refugee camp in Central Arica, where Father Krolikowski, a young Franciscan who had himself been rescued from the USSR, took 150 children under his wing to bring them to Canada. In Montreal, Krysia was cared for at a Polish Convent, where the Sisters helped her complete her schooling. In 1960, she met Michel Pater (above) and married him in 1961. They had three children, Janusz, Stefan and Lydia. Mrs Pater then decided to study dentistry at the Université de Montréal, graduated and launched a successful career as a dentist. After a short retirement and a long battle with cancer, she died at age 77, mourned by her family, her patients, and many friends.