GENIA (JEAN) ORLUKIEWICZ

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GENIA (JEAN) ORLUKIEWICZ (nee SZCZEPANSKI) December 10, 1930 - February 15, 2014 It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Genia (Jean) Orlukiewicz. Genia was predeceased by her husband Peter, her parents, Florian and Emilia Szczepanski in Poland, brothers Walter and Michal, and sisters Maria and Anna. Mom will be lovingly remembered by her two sons George J. Orle (Elizabeth Gornik) and Thomas (Heather); her three grandsons, Paul (Sharon), Daniel (Dana), Brian (Kari) and her sister Stefania Ukrainski and family in England. Genia was born on December 10, 1930 in Horbkow, Poland. At the beginning of the Second World War when the Russians invaded Poland her entire family was deported from their home and sent by the Soviets to slave labour camps in the Gulag. Genia was 11 years old. They were not expected to return to Poland and were in fact expected to perish there. Her mother and brother Michal did die but the remainder of the family held together until the Russians freed them as part of the agreement to form a new Polish army from the deported Polish citizens. What happened to her during the war shaped her character thereafter. Faith in her God and her religion was matched only by her faith and belief in family. She truly believed that her survival had occurred because of these virtues. Mom immigrated to Canada in 1946 to join her brother Walter and sister Maria. Shortly thereafter, she met our father Peter, and they were married in 1950. Both of them loved their new country and as soon as they could they applied for Canadian Citizenship which they proudly acknowledged whenever they could. Summer vacations were spent in long car journeys specifically for the purpose of educating their sons on the beauty and vastness of Canada. Over the last few decades her happy time was spent at her cottage at Island Beach where an entire section of cottages were occupied by the families of her closest friends. Mom was an excellent seamstress and was employed by Victoria Leather and then Eatons until her retirement. Mom regretted that the war had interrupted her education. In 1974 Mom decided to improve herself and enrolled at Red River Community College and obtained her GED certificate. In 1981, Mom gained the title of Babcia, with the arrival of her first grandchild. Two more followed in 1984 and 1985 and Babcia now took pride in her three babies'. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to a charity of your choice or to the Orlukiewicz Family Bursary at the University of Manitoba. Viewing and Rosary will take place on Friday, February 21 at 9:30 a.m. at Holy Ghost Roman Catholic Church, 341 Selkirk Ave. followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. with an Oblate Father officiating. Interment to follow in Holy Ghost Cemetery. 204-586-8044

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 20, 2014