Obituary of Josephine BZDEGA

March 20, 1925 – Antosia, Poland

November 21, 2019 – Calgary, Alberta

Josephine Bzdega of Calgary, AB, passed away on Thursday, November 21, 2019 at the age of 94 years.

Josephine was born in Antosia, Poland to Ann and Paul Basarab on March 20, 1925. She lived in the small farming community where she took great pride in her education achievements. When the Soviet Union invaded Poland during World War II, the family was exiled to a Siberian internment camp. After their release from forced labor camps, they traveled through refugee camps in Persia, India, and England, until immigrating to Canada in 1947. Josephine married Frank Bzdega, an army sergeant from the Polish Third Carpathian division, which fought at and helped win the battle for Monte Cassino in Italy during the war. She provided much-needed support to young Polish immigrants who were part of the Solidarity wave that arrived at Manitoba in the 1980s. Josephine lived with her family in St. Boniface, Manitoba for most of her life until moving to Calgary in 2005.

She will be sadly missed by her sons and their wives, Richard and Lise, and Ted and Holley; her sister and brother-in-law, Joan and Roy; her five grandchildren, Jeremy, Daniel, Patrick, Sarah, and Matthew; and her great-grandchildren, Gabrielle, Joshua, Liam, and Josephine.  She survived the passing of her husband Frank in 1981. She also cared for her mother who passed at the age of 96.

A memorial service and burial will be held in Winnipeg, MB this coming summer in 2020.  Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Josephine’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com. The family thanks the generous and caring support from the staff at Foothills Hospital and the years of care provided by the staff at Walden Heights Senior Living Community in South Calgary.

A tree will be planted in living memory of Josephine. McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek, 14441 BANNISTER ROAD SE, CALGARY, Ab, t2x 3j3,  Telephone: 403- 256-9575.