Jadwiga Zaleski, our beloved mother, babcia, prababcia and ciocia, passed away in her 93rd year on January 28, 2024, leaving behind a legacy of love, faith and courage in the face of several illnesses, which she bore with a quiet and peaceful dignity.

Reunited with her loving husband Antoni, Jadwiga will always remain a cherished and loving mother to Stasia, Zbig (Saverina), Halina (Terry), and Krzysio. Jadwiga continues to be deeply loved by her grandchildren Anthony (Daniela), Paul, Veronica (Brett) and Kathryn (Riley), and her great grandchildren James, Penelope, Maddox and Zackary.

Jadwiga will be missed by her nieces Helen (George), Irene (Ed), and by her extended family in Canada, the United States and Poland. She will be reunited with her granddaughter Daniella, nephews Wally (Janet) and Stan, her brother Ed and his wife Anna, her cousins Zosia and Anna, her cousins in Michigan including Jan and Anna, her parents, brothers and sisters who passed away a long time ago, and many cherished family members and friends.

Immigrating to Canada from Poland with her husband Antoni and three young children Stasia, Zbyszek and Halina in 1959, Jadwiga sacrificed and worked hard to establish a better life for her family. She endured particularly challenging times during the early years when the family lived on King Street, working several jobs to make ends meet.

Jadwiga worked for many years at Burwash and Annesley Hall at the University of Toronto, where she affectionately became known to the students as “Mom”, always making sure they were never hungry. She enjoyed looking after her grandchildren, making them breakfast in the morning before they went off to school, walking them to the bus stop and leaving snacks for them after school, trips to the hairdresser on Saturday morning at 5 am, and catching up over the phone with her cousins Zosia and Anna, and her sister-in-law Anna.

We will miss the time spent with Jadwiga at family gatherings, including special occasions, summer trips to Midland and Michigan to visit family, and to Ed and Anna’s cottage.

She was kind and loving to everyone she met.

The family would like to extend their thanks and appreciation to Jadwiga’s caregivers over the last several months, particularly staff at Copernicus Lodge and the Bickle Centre.

Donations in Jadwiga’s memory may be made to the Copernicus Lodge Foundation, the UHN Foundation (University Health Network) or the St. Joseph’s Health Centre Foundation.