Halina Krawaczynska (22 Aug 1932 - 1 Jan 2019)

In loving memory of Halina Krawaczynska who sadly passed away on 1st January 2019.
Family have requested no flowers, however donations in lieu may be given at the service.

Mum was born in Bielska. Poland in 1932. Her dad Leon was a headmaster and her mother Halina was a registrar. She also had a younger brother Bogdan. Mum’s childhood was marred by the breakout of WWII, where Germans took her father away and he never returned. Inevitably mum endured suffering and poverty as many did during those tough years and dreamt of living a better life in England.

In her late 20’s she was introduced to my father, Stefan; a pole who fought as a paratrooper in WWII and settled in England when the war ended. Love blossomed and they said their vows on the 23rd July 1961 then settled into married life.

Mum admitted she was a poor cook when she first married but she mastered the required skills and became very adept in the kitchen. Mum took great pride in cooking and baking - her dishes will be very much missed as no one could make them as she did. Having known hunger and poverty in her youth she took immense pleasure in feeding others, given the chance usually until they were fit to pop.

Mum had 3 children; Jack, Gosia and Dot. When children came along, the new life she had dreamed of seemed seemed complete but sadly my father died in 1978. Difficult as it was, life had to go on and she felt she had done her husband proud when all 3 of her children graduated from university and settled down.

The birth of her first grandchild James brought her great joy and a new meaning to life and the joy only increased when 2 more grandchildren, Ryan and Vickie joined the ranks.

Mum faced terminal illness with the same strength she faced life and died peacefully as she had hoped. Mum’s death has left a void that we don’t know how to fill - she touched many lives and will truly never be forgotten.