Peacefully at home on February 18, 2022 in her 93rd year. Beloved wife of 65 years of Stefan (“Steve”); loving mother of Stan (Kristina), Rick (Lizann), Anthony (Diana) and Peter (Teresa); proud grandmother of Alicia Kowalczyk (Michał), Renata Ramzia (Michał), Marek (Joanna), Michael (Laura) and Veronica; adoring great-grandmother of Anastazja, Ela, Teodor, Łukasz, Rhys, Stefan and Kasia. Survived by her sister Julia Monid and brother Jόzef Kawa, as well as family in the United States and Poland.
Isabela (“Iza”) was born August 9, 1929, in Weteranόwka, in southeastern Poland, to Kazimierz Kawa and Anna (née Ostrowska). The second world war uprooted Iza and her family, and as a young girl she lived through many challenging times in far off places including Siberia, Persia, and Koja, Uganda where she lived with her mother and siblings Julia and Jόzek.
Iza came to Canada with Julia in 1951, and they were joined within a few years by their mother and younger brother as well as older sisters Kazimiera (Jόzef Rysiak) and Helena (Adam Choroszy). Iza settled in Toronto, where she met Stefan at a Polish community dance and the rest is history! Although Canada was home, Iza remained a staunch Polish patriot throughout her life. She was engaged in the Polish community as a volunteer teacher of Polish language in the 1960’s, and a cub leader and scout instructor in the Polish Scouting Association in Canada well into her 80’s. She was an active member of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Mississauga and the Kolbe Seniors’ Club.
Iza was a devoted mother to her four sons, and a doting grandmother and great-grandmother. Her family was everything to her and the source of her greatest joy – as well as the frequent beneficiary of large pots of home-made soup and fresh-baked apple cake dutifully delivered by Dziadziu Stef.
Izunia, Mama, Babcia, Pra-babcia and Druhna - you will be lovingly remembered and dearly missed.

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