With very heavy hearts we announce the passing of our beloved Mama, Stephanie Czapla. She left this earth on Thursday, May 16 and has left a huge void that can never be filled. Her departure has left us with a deep sense of loss and sadness. Any person who had the honour of meeting Stephanie would have also been touched by her incredible kindness and love, no matter how brief the encounter.

She was born on May 12, 1948 in Domostawa, Poland where she faced adversity almost immediately upon entering this world, losing both her parents at a very young age. As a pre teen she courageously made a very long and scary journey all alone across the ocean, landing in Toronto. With no formal education, money or knowledge of English she was able to build a successful, prosperous life with sheer determination and an unbelievable work ethic, with her life partner, Christopher by her side.

She lived a life with passion, purpose and unwavering determination with a goal to build a better life for her children and grandchildren. Ensuring we were safe, happy, and given every opportunity and experience to enrich our lives. She instilled her incredible values within us and ensured she passed on the generational and cultural traditions to us, for which we are so grateful.

She embraced every challenge with tenacity and faced so much adversity and pain through her life but did so with incredible patience, grace and strength. The goal was to ensure her children and grandchildren never had to face the difficult times and challenges she did, and she most certainly achieved that goal. Our Mama and Tata paved a beautiful road for us and guided and supported us all on our individual successful journeys through this life by setting the most amazing examples to follow.

As a devoted mother, Stephanie nurtured a loving and close-knit family. She was the cherished wife of (late) Christoper Czapla and together they created a beautiful legacy of love, loyalty, respect and devotion through their children, Richard (Cynthia), Miranda (Angelo) and Diane. The best Babcia (Grandma) ever to Stefania, Mackenzie, Alexander and Samantha. She was so proud of all her little turkey nuggets, big and small. Her kind heart, warm presence, generous spirit and unconditional love will forever be missed.

Kindness & warmth always radiated from her smile and eyes even when she felt unwell, she always worried about her family first and would always put her children and grandchildren before herself. Throughout her journey she touched countless lives with her kindness, compassion, empathy, generosity and love. Everyone who knew her loved her because her smile & laugh would fill people’s hearts with genuine love and joy. Even all of god creatures gravitated to her because they also felt so safe and nurtured in her presence.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to those who have reached out with their love, support, during this challenging time. Your kind words and gestures have provided us with solace and strength. We are forever grateful for your unwavering presence. As we bid farewell to our Mama, the most incredible human being who graced all of us with her presence on this earth, we carry her wonderful legacy and spirit within us, specifically within the kind, empathetic, loving hearts in all her children and grandchildren, cherishing the memories and many lessons & cultural traditions bestowed upon us. May her soul find eternal peace, and may her beautiful light continue to guide us through the darkest moments.

Mama, we are so grateful and thankful you gave us life, and filling each one of our lives abundantly with happiness and love. There is a huge empty void within all of us now to not have you here beside us. We will remain strong because we were raised by a warrior, the strongest and most beautiful women we know. Of all the gifts that life has to offer, a loving Mother is the best gift of them all.

Friends may call at the Turner & Porter Peel Chapel 2180 Hurontario St., Mississauga (Hwy 10 N of QEW) on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 from 6 - 9 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church on Wednesday, May 22 2024 at 9:30 a.m. Interment Assumption Catholic Cemetery

Donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario SPCA or a charity of your choice in honour of her memory.