Remembering Leokadia Mucha

Our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away on January 5, 2026 at the age of 94. Leokadia was born in Gebarzow, Poland, on April 17, 1931. She was the youngest of five siblings, and daughter to Pawel and Franciszka (née Wolczynski) Kowalczyk. Leokadia grew up on a busy farm in rural Poland amongst a large family. Her father was a farmer and miller and provided for the family during the difficult economic times. Lives were changed forever when World War II broke out in 1939. Leokadia was just 9 years old when she witnessed her best friend, Baila, a Polish-Jew, being rounded up with her family by the SS, never to be seen again. Schooling in German-occupied Poland was forbidden and Leokadia attended clandestine “schools” in forests, abandoned buildings and other people’s homes, always in fear of being discovered and arrested. When the war finally ended, Leokadia was a teenager and completed high school in Radom. There were shortages in post-war Poland, particularly in health care. Nursing appealed to Leokadia and she completed her studies in 1951. She worked as a pediatric surgical nurse for ten years in hospitals, in Starachowice and the provincial capital, Kielce.

New Beginnings

In 1959, Leokadia’s future husband, Roman Mucha, returned to Poland to visit his family for the first time since being captured as a prisoner of war by the Nazis in 1939. After the war ended, Roman emigrated to Canada in 1945. Coincidentally, both he and Leokadia came from the same area of Poland. During his visit, and with the help of familial contacts and some enterprising local “match-makers,” Leokadia and Roman met while she happened to be tending to her ailing father at the time. Upon Roman’s return to Canada, they both corresponded and, in 1961, Leokadia chose to start a new life and emigrated to Canada. On August 5, 1961, she and Roman were married in Toronto at St. Casimir’s Church. Their son, Richard, was born in April, 1962. Adopting a new homeland was a major change for Leokadia and while she had initially pursued working in nursing, caring for her family took precedence. Eventually, Leokadia was hired by CIBC and worked in their Employee Food Services at Commerce Court. She made many friends there and retired in 1992.

Family Life

After Richard married Denise (nee Brylowski) in 1987, their daughter Danielle (Miroslav) was born in 1992. Leokadia and Roman were ecstatic to be able to care for their first grandchild. A second grandchild, Christopher, was born in 1996 and Leokadia continued to enjoy being a “Babcia” to both grandchildren. She was very proud of her Polish heritage and taught the language and imparted its culture and traditions not only to her family.

Roman passed away in 2001, and now a widow, Leokadia found comfort in helping to care for her grandchildren as they grew. She particularly enjoyed spending time with her family at the cottage, and on the beach in Tiny Township. Family meant the world to Leokadia so it was not surprising she managed to return to Poland several times to visit her siblings, nieces and nephews. A devout Catholic, she had a special devotion to Our Lady of Czestochowa and made several pilgrimages to the monastery in Poland during her lifetime.

Sadly, in her early 80’s Leokadia became afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. Though the illness clouded her memories it could never erase the kindness in her eyes or the way she lit up when family and friends visited her at Copernicus Lodge in Toronto, which became her home in 2013. Despite her illness advancing, there were moments of joy and comfort for Leokadia. Her grandson Christopher, who is employed at Copernicus Lodge, was not only able to frequently visit his Babcia, but encouraged her to eat just as she had done with him. In 2023, Leokadia’s granddaughter Danielle (Miroslav) gave birth to Mila Sophia. Although bedridden, Leokadia was able to proudly look upon her granddaughter and great granddaughter when they visited. Her family chooses to remember her not by her final struggle, but by the life she lived and the years of wisdom and love she shared.

We would like to thank the nurses and staff at Copernicus Lodge Long Term Care in Toronto, particularly 6 South, for the excellent care and compassion they provided to Leokadia over the many years. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Leokadia can be made to the Copernicus Lodge Foundation (https://copernicuslodge.com/the-foundation/ways-to-give/), or the Alzheimer Society of Canada (https://alzheimersocietyinmemoriam.crowdchange.ca/page/leokadiamucha).

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord. Wieczny odpoczynek racz jej dac, Panie.