It is with heavy hearts that the family of Mieczyslaw Dunajski announce his passing at Trillium Health Partners - Mississauga Hospital Site on Sunday, December 14, 2025 at the age of 96.

Beloved husband of Jozefa for 66 years . Loving father of Stanislaw (Stan), Jan (John) and his wife Cindy, and Krysia (Kristina). Cherished grandfather of Monica and her husband Yurek , and Natasha and her husband Jean-Simon. He was also a proud great-grandfather of Vivienne, Mila, Harlow, and Huxon.

Mieczyslaw was predeceased by his parents Jan Dunaj (father) and Stanislawa Kamzelska (mother) and by his siblings : Julia, Zosia, Janina, Marysia, Stanislaw, Franciszek, Jan.

Mieczyslaw was born on November 14, 1929, in Skurpie, Poland, a rural village in Dzialdowo County, 167 km northwest of Warszawa , Poland’s capital city. He was the youngest of eight (8) children and by a quirk of fate he was baptized as Dunajski.

World War II commenced on September 01 , 1939 with Nazi Germany’s attack on Poland. The family was forcibly moved north toward the Baltic sea. His father and 3 elder brothers were taken to the Stutthof Concentration Camp on the Baltic coast east of the Wisla River, to be used as slave labor. Mieczyslaw would bring food packages to the camp for his father and brothers . His father was released to the family in 1942 in poor health and died shortly thereafter. His brother Jan was murdered in the camp by Nazi soldiers. The entrance to the camp shows a large photo of Jan Dunaj. The experience developed a hardness for life, a survival instinct, and a strength, that would serve him well in the future.

Mieczyslaw Dunajski was a remarkable man who survived World War II, completed 3 years of military service developing mechanical skills and sniper marksmanship, worked as a watchmaker apprentice, and completed education and apprenticeship as a carpenter and cabinet maker.

He then embarked on a life of adventure as a merchant marine , visiting numerous ports around the world until 1956 , when he arrived in Montreal, Quebec, Canada under sponsorship of his uncle . He worked in a cloth fabrication factory maintaining mechanical weaving machines, returned to furniture and cabinet making in a factory, and onto the housing construction industry.

On March 1, 1959, through a mutual friend , he met the young and lovely Jozefa Kawa, a seamstress from Poland who had arrived in Canada a year earlier in 1958. They married on September 12, 1959 and settled to begin their family life together. A landed immigrant of Polish nationality, he proudly attained Canadian citizenship in 1963. He went on to employment in commercial construction and commercial property maintenance for the remainder of his working life.

Mieczyslaw was a man of many skills: construction, furniture and cabinet making, mechanics, plumbing, and electrical work. His passion for learning was infectious, and he instilled a deep respect of mathematics in his children.

His hobbies included building furniture, dancing, playing the harmonica , rifle practice, time piece repair and maintenance, winemaking (fortified !!!), cooking (especially his famous potato pancakes), engaging in outdoor activities with his children, and travelling.

Mieczyslaw was prudent , always advising to buy what you can afford and live within your means, emphasizing the importance of family helping each other. He learned to speak English through parables, such as the new shoes parable, which taught the value of maintaining possessions, the philosopher parable, highlighting the importance of practical skills , and the cherry pie parable, which encouraged asking questions and never taking no for an answer. This last parable led to a family love of cherry pie at the dinner table on many occasions.

Mieczyslaw was a symbol of discipline , longevity , strength , resilience , and perseverance reflected by his love of oak wood in his work. He believed that no task was too big, difficult, or impossible, which he imparted to his children. His unwavering focus was on providing for his wife and children, ensuring they had the necessities of life, and access to higher education. His daughter pursued a career in the medical profession, while his sons completed studies in engineering science and mechanical engineering. Above all else, spending time with his wife, children, and extended family, was paramount.

We will deeply miss our devoted father and loving husband , but his sacrifices and his legacy will forever be remembered.

Jozefa , Stanislaw , Jan , Krysia

Friends may call to the Turner & Porter Peel Chapel, 2180 Hurontario Street (Hwy 10 North of QEW), on Sunday December 21, 2025, from 4:30–8:30pm. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, 4260 Cawthra Road, Mississauga, on Tuesday December 23, 2025, at 11:00 am. Interment to follow at St. John’s Dixie Cemetery, 737 Dundas Street East, Mississauga (Cawthra and Dundas).