Maria (Maryla) Zamirski
July 22, 1932- June 9, 2016
Maryla Gwozdowska was born in July 22 1932 in Oszmiana, Poland. (now Lithuania) to Tomasz and Katarzyna Gwozdowski, oldest child after her brother Tomasz; followed by her brother Gustaw and finally Honorata.
At the start of the second World War, The Russian Red Army relocated the family to Krasnoyarsk Krai, Soviet Union in Siberia. Her father Tomasz, a Sergeant in a Polish Army fought valiantly with the Red Army against the Nazi’s on the eastern front until he was wounded in action outside of Warsaw during the advance against the German Army.
After the conclusion of the war, and healing from his head wounds, he eventually journeyed to reclaim his children, unfortunately, his wife had perished in April of 1942. Through, clandestine means he left the Soviet Union with children in the tow, returning to Poland. Maryla, who had now taken on the motherly roll in helping raise her younger brother and sister.
In 1967, on a trip to Poland, Antoni Zamirski met Maryla through family connections. Maryla subsequently moved to Fort William, Canada, where they married in fall 1967 at St. Casimir’s Church.
In the winter of 1969 they began their family, when their son Marek was born. Maryla spent time raising her family and supporting her husband, who predeceased her in January 1997.
Always proud of her heritage, Maryla spent her later years as an active member with the Polish Legion Branch 149 and also with St. Casimir Church, where she spent time supporting the community making perogies. Maryla is predeceased by her brother Tomasz and survived her son, Marek, brother Gustaw and sister Honorata.Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 24, 2016, when family and friends will gather for funeral mass at 11:00am, at St. Casimir's Church celebrated by Rev. Ireneusz Stadler. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery.
Maria Zamirski will be remembered in the Blake Funeral Chapel Memorial Grove. Annual dedication service Sunday, June 11, 2017.
