Maria PARA

12 FEB 1925 - 16 AUG 2014

• BIRTH: 12 FEB 1925, Jazwiny, Poland
• BURIAL: 2014, St Joseph Catholic Cemetery, South Bend IN
• DEATH: 16 AUG 2014, South Bend, IN

• MARRIAGE: 19 AUG 1945, Rensburg, Germany

1.  Genny WALESIEWICZ
2.  Cassie WALESIEWICZ
3.  John WALESIEWICZ

INDEX

[N3358] Maria Walesiewicz ... neePara
Feb. 12, 1925 - Aug. 16, 2014

SOUTH BEND - Maria Walesiewicz, 89, passed away at 12:50 pm on Saturday, August 16, 2014, surrounded by her family. She was born Maria Para on February 12, 1925, to Adam and Rozalia (Augustyn) Para in Jazwiny, Poland. She was preceded in death by her parents; twin brother, John; and brothers, Ryszard and Sylvester. On August 19, 1945, in Rensburg, Germany, she was joined in marriage to her husband of 65 years, Julian Walesiewicz, who passed away on April 30, 2011. Maria and her family were driven out of their home and captured by the Nazis in World War II by the Germans as they were ordered to be transported into the interior of Germany. There she was separated from her family and taken as a slave into a German work camp. Here is where she met and married Julian. With the help of her husband's Uncle Chester Walesiewicz, they came to the United States on Christmas Eve, 1945. Surviving Maria are her children: Genny (Leonard) Wojciechowski, with whom she resided, John (Robin) of Reston, Virginia. Her daughter, Cassie Cichon, and son-in-law, Richard Cichon, are deceased. She is also survived by grandchildren, Janet (John) Tavaras, Richard (Amy) Cichon, James (Karen) Cichon, Lisa (David) Kochanowski, Amy (Todd) Trindle, Carolyn (David) Gaughan, Adam (Cecilia) Walesiewicz and Whitney Walesiewicz. Also surviving are great-grandchildren, Kyle and Andrew Kochanowski, Nathan, Nicole and Morgan Trindle, Alana and Nolan Tavaras, Mia and Amy Cichon, and Rose Gaughan. She is also survived by sisters, Teresa Ciesla of Roselle, IL, and Janina Broton of Jazwiny, Poland. "Babci's" greatest joy was spending time with her family and growing her roses to give to them. Visitation will be 4-8 pm today, Wednesday, August 20, 2014, in ST. JOSEPH FUNERAL HOME, 824 S. Mayflower Rd., where a Rosary will be prayed at 4:30 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014, in St. Adalbert Catholic Church. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. The family would like to thank Maria's nurse Abbey and aide Kristen of The Center Hospice for the loving care that they gave our Mother, as well as the others of Hospice House who helped us through this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Hospice Foundation, 4220 Edison Lakes Parkway, Suite 210, Mishawaka, IN 46545. Condolences for the family may be made at www.sjfh.net. Published in South Bend Tribune on Aug. 20, 2014