Eulogy for Zofia Wirszyllo

delivered on March 4^th, 2002
Saint Francis Catholic Church
Ann Arbor, Michigan

by Thomas F. Piatkowski

My name is Tom Piatkowski -- I am a nephew of Zofia Wirszyllo.

It is a privilege to share with you here this morning a few words on Zofia Piatkowska Wirszyllo ... whose life we celebrate and whose soul we pray for in this Mass today.

When Aunt Zosia passed away two weeks ago she was almost 92 years old. Like many of you here today, she had lived a life full of many unexpected and profound new beginnings... and like many of you, she repeatedly embraced the challenges of "making a new start in life."

She was born in 1910, in Warsaw, Poland. But her country did not really exist -- partitioned among her neighbors. And her native tongue was forbidden in public speech.

In 1914-18, the First World War... and in its aftermath, the founding of a new Polish state... with all the heady energy of freedom and long suppressed ethnic assertion... and with millions of her fellow citizens, although but a young child, she was swept up into "making a new start in life."

In 1920-21, the Bolshevik invasion from the Soviet Union ... up to gates of Warsaw.

In 1922 her younger brother, Stefan, my father, left Poland to visit the United States... and as it turned out, never to return ... rather, eventually putting down roots here in Ann Arbor.

And then, 1939 and the Second World War, and a new partition and foreign occupation ... accompanied with a new level of genocide... her eldest brother, Zygfryd, fled to London with the Polish forces and the government in exile that so many of you also knew... like his brother, Stefan, before, never to return ...but with millions of her fellow citizens in Poland she was swept away, however darkly, into "making a new start in life."

Zosia and her younger brother Julian, endure the occupation of Poland, and the horrendous destruction of Warsaw... and through it all took on the care of their mother.

In 1945, the Second World War ends, but a reconstituted Poland is sacrificed to an existence behind the Iron Curtain... the government becomes a puppet to the Soviet Union... and the Catholic Church becomes an oppressed enemy of the state, ... yet again, she undertakes "making a new start in life.".

Then her mother dies, and then her younger brother.

In 1964, Zosia travels to the United States, to visit her brother Stefan's family. It was her first trip (to our knowledge) outside of Poland.

Here in Ann Arbor, she meets a handsome Polish Air Force officer, Henryk Wirszyllo, and ... as we say, ... the rest is history (the history of Zosia with which most of us here are most familiar)... and like her brother, Stefan, before her, ... she sets down roots in Ann Arbor. She copes with a new language, with a new country and its ways, with surviving economically in middle age with skills from another place and another time -- that do not quite fit with the circumstances of the day ... but she is strong, she is stubborn, and she is experienced in "making a new start in life."

Zosia was a good wife to Henryk. And in the early years of their marriage she experiences some of the pleasures that had eluded her earlier days.

In the late 1980s, Henryk starts to experience deteriorating health ... and finally becomes totally dependent on Zosia for day-to-day care... and Zosia's role gradually changes to be one with more responsibility.

In 1992, Henryk passes away, and Zosia is in many ways on her own here in Ann Arbor, in old age once again taking care of all her own business affairs, social affairs, all the cares of life's existence -- "making a new start in life."

The afflictions of old age and dementia start to take their toll, but Zosia struggles to take these "new starts in life" in stride as best she can.

In 1999, Zosia finally moves to Chelsea Retirement Community, a really "new start in life." She resisted going to Chelsea a very long time ... but once she did go, she made the best of her situation.

And then there was a succession of moves within Chelsea, to levels of increased assistance and care. First from Glazier Hall to Wesley Hall, then from Wesley Hall to Towsley Village. And in the last few weeks to added assistance from Arbor Hospice.

Throughout her life Zosia took great comfort in her Catholic faith, and her devotion to Matka Boska, our blessed Mother of God ... on February 14^th, Zosia made another important "new beginning" when she departed this life to be joined in eternal life with her God.

Zosia's ashes will be interred in the Memorial Garden of this church, just outside of where we are gathered at this moment. In the summer a memorial engraving of her name will be added to those that are already placed in remembrance there.

When we visit St. Francis in the future, let us occasionally take the time to pass by the Memorial Garden ... and recall a good memory of Zosia and the life she shared with us for so many years ... and ask her to pray for us ... that we might be so lucky ... in our time ... to join her.

On behalf of Zosia's family and in the name of Zosia herself, thank you to all who befriended her, assisted her, and provided for her care. Your kindness was very important in her life, especially in the last several years, and is much appreciated.