Boleslaw (Bob) Janiec, age 94, passed away peacefully on March 21, 2022 at the TBRHSC. Boleslaw was born on May 29, 1927 in Poland. He endured a lengthy separation from his parents in Canada due to WWII. After the war he encountered further obstacles from being united with them, imposed by the Communist Regime of the Cold War era in Poland. In 1957, he with his pregnant wife and two sons fled Poland. They made it to Switzerland where his daughter was born enroute to Canada and were finally reunited with his parents in Port Arthur.
Boleslaw was employed as a baker at the Shaw Baking Company, later by Dominion Stores and Safeway until his retirement in 1992.
He was a devout member of St. Mary Our Lady Queen of Poland Church and a lifetime member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Polish Combatants Branch in Thunder Bay.
Boleslaw was a kind and generous person always helping anyone in need. One of his greatest joys in life was spending time with family and friends. He loved playing with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He often entertained the kids with his recollection of Polish poems and songs from his younger years. He would light up when family and friends came to visit and his door was always open to anyone who wanted to drop by. Boleslaw enjoyed meeting friends for coffee at McDonalds and over the years made many new friendships on his outings.
He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife of 70 years, Agnieszka, children Ted (Hanna), Mike, Mary Frankow, Helen (Kyle Threthewey), and niece Margaret Nordland. A beloved Dziadziu to his Grandchildren; Joanna Collins (Blair), Krystine Munshaw (Adam), John Janiec (Lindsay), Alicia Janiec (Ryan), Lesia Koski (Darrell), Julie Lacaria (Joey), Christopher Frankow (Patricia), Brooke Trethewey, Samantha and Nicholas Nordland, as well as twelve great grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his parents Jan and Stefania Janiec, sister Emilia and son-in-law Peter Frankow.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, March 26, 2022 leaving the Harbourview Funeral Centre at 9:00 a.m. to St. Mary Our Lady Queen Of Poland Church where the Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Piotr Dudek at 9:30 a.m. Interment will follow in St. Andrew’s Cemetery.
Visitation for family and friends will be held in the Chapel of Harbourview Funeral Centre on Friday, March 25, 2022 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. with vigil prayers at 7:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to St. Mary Our Lady Queen of Poland parish.
