Me and my children are so fortunate to have known our dear Mamo and Babcia. When I married into this wonderful Polish family, I was teased a bit about staying on the right side of the strong matriarch. She could be intimidating, a force of nature, but she was completely devoted to her family. I knew about the sacrifices she made when her family immigrated from Poland, how she walked to work in a strange new country to save money to buy their first home while also sending money to relatives in Poland. She continued to work tirelessly for her family throughout her life, and hosted the most amazing family dinners on holidays and special occasions. It wasn't until years later that I heard the stories of her early childhood, and what she, her mother, and siblings endured during what was then a communist country divided by war. At an age when I was still playing with dolls, she was walking long distances to a market to sell things to help her family. In spite of life's hardships, she was always welcoming with a big smile and warm hug. I have never met another woman more devoted to her family, and I will be forever thankful that this wonderful woman was in my life.
