Born Halina Myc in the Polish town of Płotnica, Mom was the last of her generation in our extended family. Despite the odds, she survived being deported to Siberia in 1940, later living as a refugee in Persia and Rhodesia then as an immigrant in England and eventually settling in Toronto in 1952. Throughout this time Halina and her sister Irena were inseparable.

Halina married Josef Zynwala in 1955 and raised 3 children, Elizabeth Wallis (Kenneth), Roman and Zenon. She was widowed in 1984. Halina worked many jobs in Canada, being most proud of her position with The Bank of Montreal where in the course of her duties she became known as an expert at detecting counterfeit currency.

Halina was a kind, shy, gentle and yet intelligent woman. She read continuously and kept up with world news daily. She was engaging and enjoyed long conversations with family and friends as often as possible. She was also a woman of great faith in God. The deprivations she suffered as a child and the benefits she received from various charities such as the Red Cross instilled in her the need to help those less fortunate. She could never pass a person down on their luck without trying to help in some way.

Mom died peacefully, at home, without becoming a burden to anyone. She will be greatly missed and eternally loved.

Donations in her memory to The Canadian Red Cross gratefully accepted.