Grave of the Oczechowski family
[lot C1 664 ]
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Helena (Bunia)
SŁOTWIŃSKA
born TUSTANOWSKA
( 1898-1993 )
SŁOTWIŃSKA
born TUSTANOWSKA
( 1898-1993 )
Mother of Jadwiga Oczechowska (below). Born in the region of Lwow, Helena studied Fine Arts in Vienna. Was a volunteer in the defense of Lwow in 1918. In 1921 married Ludwik Slotwinski, a career officer. They settled in Warsaw and had 2 daughters, Marta and Jadwiga.
During the Warsaw Insurrection in 1944, Helena served as a field-nurse, was thereafter deported to the Sandbostel German prison camp. Her husband perished in the Oranienbourg concentration camp.
After the war, Helena worked in Belgium for the Polish Red Cross (1945-1953), then joined her daughter's family in Montreal. Here she did voluntary work for the Canadian Red Cross and for Polish charities. Died at the age of 94.
During the Warsaw Insurrection in 1944, Helena served as a field-nurse, was thereafter deported to the Sandbostel German prison camp. Her husband perished in the Oranienbourg concentration camp.
After the war, Helena worked in Belgium for the Polish Red Cross (1945-1953), then joined her daughter's family in Montreal. Here she did voluntary work for the Canadian Red Cross and for Polish charities. Died at the age of 94.
Jadwiga OCZECHOWSKA
born SŁOTWIŃSKA
( 1924-2016 )
born SŁOTWIŃSKA
( 1924-2016 )
Born in Krakow, Jadwiga (Dzidka) spent a happy childhood in Poland. She was 15 when war broke out. Her father was one of the Polish Army's first casualties. Under harsh German occupation, Jadwiga, and her mother and sister, had to move around different parts of Poland.
In 1944, Jadwiga served as a volunteer nurse during the Warsaw Uprising. Sent to a prison camp by the Germans, she was liberated at war's end and went to Belgium where she studied and, in 1951, married fellow-ex-prisoner Wojtek Oczechowski (below).
After emigrating to Canada, the couple continued to study and to work, and in the mid 1960's they adopted two children, Paul and Barbara. Living in Montreal, the family enjoyed a summer cottage at Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs. After retirement, Dzidka devoted herself to painting and to ceramic art, and died at the age of 92.
In 1944, Jadwiga served as a volunteer nurse during the Warsaw Uprising. Sent to a prison camp by the Germans, she was liberated at war's end and went to Belgium where she studied and, in 1951, married fellow-ex-prisoner Wojtek Oczechowski (below).
After emigrating to Canada, the couple continued to study and to work, and in the mid 1960's they adopted two children, Paul and Barbara. Living in Montreal, the family enjoyed a summer cottage at Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs. After retirement, Dzidka devoted herself to painting and to ceramic art, and died at the age of 92.
Wojciech OCZECHOWSKI
( 1922-2017 )
( 1922-2017 )
Born and raised in Poland, son of the Bank of Poland's CEO, Wojciech (Wojtek) was only 17 when Hitler's armies invaded Poland. His memories of war and of the German occupation were so painful that he avoided talking to his children about this period. Liberated from a German POW camp at war's end, he took up studying again in Belgium, where he met and married Jadwiga (above) in 1951. The young couple emigrated to Canada, penniless but with enthusiasm. Wojtek continued his studies and became a chartered accountant, a profession he exercised with skill and humour nearly until the end of his life, at 95.