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Mary (Maria) Luszczak
November 16, 1928 - December 17, 2016
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<div itemprop="description">It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Maria Luszczak on Saturday, December 17, 2016. Maria died at St. Joseph’s Hospice after a courageous battle with lymphoma. <br> <br>Maria was born in Cheratte, Belgium, on November 16, 1928, to Boleslaw and Veronika Peruzynski. She grew up with her two sisters in a family where hard work was expected, but the family also enjoyed fun and good times fully. After finishing her vocational schooling, Maria took up the trade of seamstress. During her life, she sewed corsets to coats and everything in between. Daughter Linda enjoyed beautifully crafted clothing. Maria was always ready to share her skills, once quickly designing and sewing a dress for a newly widowed friend, who didn’t have an appropriate black dress to wear to her husband’s funeral. <br> <br>Maria married her husband, Wladyslaw (Walter), on September 7, 1950. Wladyslaw had escaped forced labour in Germany, served in the Polish Forces, and decided to settle in Belgium, where there was a vibrant Polish community. <br> <br>The young couple set off on an adventure to Canada and landed at Pier 21 in Halifax on August 22, 1951. A train trip half way across Canada ensued, with Walter and Maria settling in Port Arthur. However, they lived and worked in many parts of Northwestern Ontario. Maria worked as a cookee in the bush camps while Walter worked as a feller. Sometimes they were in the same camp and sometimes not. After a break to look after her daughter, Linda, she returned to her métier, and she retired as a seamstress at the Port Arthur General Hospital in 1989. This was just two days before starting her favourite job ever, looking after her only grandchild, Myles. What a lucky boy he was to have his Babcia care for him! <br> <br>Maria enjoyed her retirement. She loved gardening out at the ‘farm’ in Riverdale. She and Walter had many good times helping Linda and Ken with the property. They enjoyed being Dziadzia and Babcia to Myles and his friends. Maria also became active with the Towers Club at Waverly Park Towers, where her Monday baking was much anticipated and appreciated. Maria’s faith was very important to her, and she was long time member of St. Mary’s Our Lady Queen of Poland Roman Catholic Church. <br> <br>Maria is survived by her daughter, Linda (Ken Peterson); grandson, Myles, and friend Jessica; and sister-in-law, Irene Strapac. Niece, Kathy Leroux, and nephew, Jon Strapac, will miss their Ciocia Marysia. In addition, a niece, Denise, and nephews, Edouard and Freddie, survive in Belgium. Maria was predeceased by her parents, Boleslaw and Veronika; husband, Wladyslaw; sisters Celina and Valerie; nephews Christian and Jean; and niece, Veronique. <br> <br>A funeral Mass will be celebrated by Reverend Ireneusz Stadler on Tuesday, January 3, 2017, at 1:00 pm at St. Mary’s Our Lady Queen of Poland Roman Catholic Church, 93 North Algoma Street. A private interment will follow at a later date. <br> <br>Maria gave generously, and, in lieu of flowers, Maria’s family would be honoured by donations made in her memory to either St. Mary’s Our Lady Queen of Poland Roman Catholic Church or a favourite charity. <br> <br></div>