Helena Bartosik died on Tuesday, October 8th at Etobicoke General Hospital from COVID complications. She is predeceased by her husband Kazimierz, her sister Janina, and will be remembered fondly by her younger sister Teodozja, her daughters Anna and Barbara, and her son-in-law Tadeusz and her grandchildren, who were the joys of her life: Józio (jej słoneczko), Sophia (jej serduszko), i Madelenka (jej aniołek).

Helena was a private person but her faith was important to her, as was her determination to maintain Polish culture and the Polish language in her family. She valued education and often said it was the one thing no one can ever take from you. Her appreciation to live as a free person in Canada shaped her words and her actions.

Helena was a long-time supporter of charities and would donate money in response to natural disasters and conflicts around the world, in addition to being a regular blood donor. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in her name be made to Penny Appeal to support the Gaza Emergency Response, The White Helmets to support volunteer rescue workers in areas of disaster or conflict, or Ronald McDonald House. Helena worked to raise funds for Sick Kids when she worked, and Ronald McDonald House provides caregivers of children who are patients at Sick Kids Hospital the ability to stay in the same city. Helena’s daughters spent the last few months of her life visiting her at the hospital almost daily and would like their mother’s legacy to provide other families with bedside support for their loved ones.

Friends may call at the Turner & Porter “Peel Chapel”, 2180 Hurontario St. Mississauga, on Monday, October 14, 2024 from 6-9 PM. The wake service will be at 7 PM. Funeral Mass will be held at the Our Lady of Peace Parish, 3914 Bloor St W, Toronto, on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 11 AM.

Interment at Parklawn Cemetery.

Chmury nad miastem rozpal w łunę
Uderz nam w serca złotym dzwonem
Otwórz nam Polskę, jak piorunem
Otwierasz niebo zachmurzone
Daj nam uprzątnąć dom ojczysty
Tak z naszych zgliszcz i ruin świętych
Jak z grzechów naszych win przeklętych
Niech będzie biedny ale czysty
Nasz dom z cmentarza podźwignięty
Ziemi, gdy z martwych się obudzi
I brzask wolności ją ozłoci
Daj rządy mądrych, dobrych ludzi
Mocnych w mądrości i dobroci (...)

(...) Piorunem ruń, gdy w imię sławy
Pyszałek chwyci broń do ręki
Nie dopuść, żeby miecz nieprawy
Miał za rękojeść krzyż Twej męki
Niech się wypełni dobra wola
Szlachetnych serc, co w klęsce wzrosły
Przywróć nam chleb z polskiego pola
Przywróć nam trumny z polskiej sosny
Lecz nade wszystko - słowom naszym Zmienionym chytrze przez krętaczy
Jedność przywróć i prawdziwość
Niech PRAWO zawsze PRAWO znaczy
A SPRAWIEDLIWOŚĆ - SPRAWIEDLIWOŚĆ.

(Julian Tuwim, fragmenty poematu “Kwiaty Polskie”)