Janina Nowak

There is an empty hole in many peoples lives today. Jennie or Jania Nowak gently passed away on January 18, 2021. She was born May 9, 1925, 95 years ago in Luck (pronounced Woo-tsk) Poland. She had three brothers, Stasiu, Karol and Edziu all pre deceased, and three sisters Czeslawa (pre-deceased), Alfreda and Teresa.

They lived a peaceful, happy life on a large farm until Russian soldiers arrested the family and shipped them in cattle cars to Siberia, along with 2 million other Poles in 1940. Czeslawa remained in Poland separated from her family. The family spent almost two years there before they were released. Half of the Poles did not make it out. Her father and brother Edziu both died there.

Her brothers Stasiu and Karol returned to fight in the war and Jennie, Alfreda, Teresa and their mother Ewa were now refugees searching for a country of asylum. They travelled from Siberia through Uzbekistan, Kasakhstan, Persia, Karachi to Bombay, India. Here she contracted malaria and the family stayed in a refugee camp for six months and missed their boat to Tanganyica, Africa. The family was offered asylum in Mexico. They dodged torpedo attacks in the Pacific from Japanese submarines and made it to Los Angeles, USA before taking a train to Leon, Mexico and finally to Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa was a large hacienda that was home to about 1700 Polish refugees. Life returned to a new normal. Housing was built, there were schools, a church, excursions and life was good again. They spent 3 years here and then 3 years in Mexico City. Many Poles married and settled in Mexico. Mexico would always remain dear to her heart. Mariachi music filled her house.

After the war, her brother Karol got a job in Hamilton at Dofasco and was able to sponsor the family to come to Canada in 1949. Here Jennie met Mikolaj (Nicholas) Nowak. He was from a village close to her own in Poland. They were married in !950. They had 2 children Edward (Eddie) and Yolanda (Yola or Lola, pre-deceased). She had 30 years of domestic life until her husband died in 1980.

The next phase of her life was as a widow and a new grandmother. Eddie had 2 children, Nicolas and Natalia (pre-deceased) and Yola had 3 children Alexandra, Jacqueline and Connor. Life became busy again as she became babcia to all her grandchildren and later became pra babcia to her 4 great-grandchildren Bradley, Clara, Charlie and Leon. They became the centre of her life.

Jennie could see the Polish church, St Stan’s and Dom Polski from her kitchen window and so it is no surprise that she woud become very active with both. She was a member of St Stan’s rosary club and Kostki. After the war Poland was under USSR rule and Poles that escaped their country would often first come to St Stan’s for help. Fr Capiga would call Jennie and ask if she could house these new Polish refugees in her spare bedroom. Many Polish refugees would call 1 Edward st. their first home in Canada. They became life long friends of her’s and would still visit and thank her 40 years later. Jennie was also very active at Dom Polski. She helped run the Polish library every Sunday for 25 years after her husband ran it for the previous 25 years. She was the head cook and prepared countless meals for weddings, funerals and banquets at Dom Polski. She also had a private cake business on the side. She was famous for her beautiful cakes and tortes. Her kitchen was always busy and smelled of fresh baking. Her talents were well known in the Polish community.

She maintained a spotless house and surrounded it with a small forest of trees to help clean the air. Homeless cats were often present on her porches as she cared and fed them. Jennie was strong and independent and was able to live at Edward st. until the last week of her life. Hers was a life of much adventure, joy and pain. Although she had little schooling, she spoke 5 languages. It is the story of a remarkable journey and a remarkable life; a wonderful and delightful lady. She will be missed by many.

Rest in peace. You deserve it.

Due to Covid restrictions a small private funeral will be held at St. Stan’s, Hamilton on Jan 27 and she will be laid to rest at Holy Sepulchre beside her husband.

A Polish celebration of her beautiful life will be held at a later date for family and friends.