Antonina (also known as Toni) Karczewski was born November 25, 1925 in the town of Stolpce Poland, now in Belarus. She was the youngest of 6 children. The family lost their home during the war and ended up in Germany at the end of the it. Mom was educated as a teacher and at the end of the war, she was teaching in a displaced persons camp in Germany. There she met my father who was the music teacher. They married in 1948 and soon after were able to immigrate to Canada. They took English classes, retrained themselves and after a few years bought a house. When I was 5 and my sister was about 3 my mother went off to work. She worked at the TD bank, the same branch, until she retired in the 80s. She loved her job, working her way from the bottom to mortgage officer.

Mom was a fabulous cook. Besides the traditional Polish foods she enjoyed trying out new recipes and was particularly talented at baking. She was a talented seamstress sewing clothes and home furnishings. She took pride in her appearance and her home. She also had a beautiful garden.

Mom loved spending weekends at her cottage, first at Lake Simcoe where my dad built a cottage in the early 60s and later at Lake Kashabog in the Kawarthas.

The happiest times came with her grandchildren. She loved fussing over them, making their favourite meals.
During the last 3 years of her life Mom became very frail and had to accept living in a retirement home. During our regular visits she inquired about her children Barbara and Irene, son in laws Leon and Clement, grandchildren Eva and Lizzie, son-in-law Brad, and great grandchild Finley who always made her smile. Her room was covered with his prodigious artistic output.

At the age of 98, our mother almost made it to Sto Lat. She lived a long life through many challenges. We will always love and remember her.

Friends may call at the Turner & Porter Yorke Chapel, 2357 Bloor St. W., on Friday, March 8, 2024 from 8:45 – 9:30am. A Funeral Mass will be held at All Saints Roman Catholic Church, 1415 Royal York Rd., on Friday, March 8, 2024 at 10am. Interment to follow at Sanctuary Park Cemetery.