Josephine passed away at age 95 while living at Cawthra Gardens Long Term Care. She leaves behind her son Ed and his wife Lois, and her three beloved granddaughters, Katie Spurgiasz, Hayley Kopp and Heidi Kopp. She suffered the terrible loss of both her daughters, Aileen Dabski in 2017 and Diana Kopp in 2021. She lost her husband, Bronislaw, in 2015. She bravely managed to carry on with her life and recovered from two bouts of Covid-19 and one of Influenza A in the intervening years.

Josephine was a strong, capable woman who lived through WW2. When Germany invaded Poland, she was sent to Germany to work for a German family. Although not ill-treated, she was not allowed to attend school. After the war ended, she was sent with other displaced persons to a camp where she was given a choice to live in Australia, the US or Canada. When she chose Canada, she travelled by ship to Nova Scotia and then on to Owen Sound for a year to work to repay the money for her sea passage. While she was doing that she met her future husband, Bronislaw, who was doing the same thing in Collingwood. She brought her mother and brother over to Canada and married Bronislaw. They worked hard to buy their first house and renovated and re-sold many houses to pay off that mortgage and raise their 3 children. They were married 65 years until he passed in 2015.It is not surprising therefore that she had a determined spirit and strong constitution that carried her throughout all the hardships along the way.

Josephine had a younger brother, Eugene, who with his wife Gertrude had 7 children. They have both passed on as have three of their children, John, Debbie and Michael. Her nephews Eugene, Eddie and Rick and niece Christine remain. Josephine and Bronislaw sponsored his sister’s family to move to Canada. She has a niece Vala Mruck and nephew Mark Burel from this family. Another niece Helena has passed on. Josephine was cheered by the faithful visits of her god daughter Rose-Mary who was accompanied by her mother Stella Rzeplinski until she passed in 2024.

Thanks to the many caregivers at Cawthra Gardens over the years. They are truly special. They thought Josephine was special too.

We will miss her dearly.