My beloved grandmother (Busia); she was the Gadzalinski family matriarch.
Zofia was the second daughter and the fifth of six children born to Tomasz (b. 1854) and Marjanna (Ciechocka) (b. 1859) Witkowski in the village of Czermno, Mazowieckie, Poland.
Sister of Andrzej (b. 1882), Antoni (b. 1884), Stefan (b. 1886), Magdalena (b. 1888) & Jozefa (b. 1892). Her brother Antoni, a music teacher, was mercilessly shot by Russian Bolsheviks in 1917 on the property of the family farm.
Czermno [ˈt͡ʂɛrmnɔ] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Gąbin, within Płock County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It lies approximately 4 kilometres (2 mi) east of Gąbin, 18 km (11 mi) south of Płock, and 86 km (53 mi) west of Warsaw.
She married Czeslaw Gadzalinski (b. Nov 1886) on 29 Jan 1912 in the village of Czermno, Mazowieckie, Poland in a Roman Catholic ceremony. They had 7 children. The first (Matylda/Mathilda) was born in Poland in March 1913; the other six, were born between 1922 and 1930 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. My dad, George, was the youngest (born on her 40th birthday).
Her husband immigrated to America in June 1913. Sophie and daughter Mathilda were able to join husband and father eight years later when Czeslaw saved enough for their passage. They immigrated on the ship "Potomac" May 22, 1921 which arrived at the port of Boston on June 10, 1921. The immigration record shows my grandmother's age at 28 but she gave her date of birth as 8/27/1892 to appear to be two years younger. They reunited with Czeslaw in Milwaukee, Wisconsin a few days later in June 1921 where they lived all their lives. (Second child Sophie was born 9 months later in March 1922). Their third child, Irene, born Nov. 1923, died in Jan. 1925.
Most of the grandchildren were born in the 40's, 50's and 60's but her first grandchild was Shirley Szymanski, born Sept. 1931.
Widowed in Aug 1933, my grandmother supported her large family with work as a cleaning woman and as a seamstress. She was a very hard working woman. She never remarried. Busia was the jovial family matriarch, a devout Catholic, and an excellent cook. Easter was the main holiday during the year when everyone gathered at Busia's house for Easter ham and kielbasa. She was lovingly called "Busia" (an alternative name for Grandma in Polish) by everyone in the family. She had a warm, loving heart and her life centered on her family.
Busia lived at 3015 S. 7th St. in Milwaukee (a Polish neighborhood)--where the family always gathered--from 1935 until her death (prior address was 2543 S. 6th St.). It was a 5 bedroom, 2 bath, 1320 sq ft bungalow. My childhood memories of Busia and Busia's house was playing on the front porch, her old black Singer sewing machine, and the delicious deli hot dogs and homemade rolls and tomato soup with kulski noodles she often served for lunch for her grandchildren. Also, of course, her wonderful Polish foods--especially the kielbasa. She truly loved all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren! Basis also loved tending to her little backyard garden.
Busia's first great-grandchild, Roy Luecht, was born in July 1952.
Sophie Gadzalinski died in St. Francis Hospital from pulmonary crubolis due to deep-vein thrombosis at age 82. She was survived by her six children; Tillie (Harry) Serkowski, Sophie (Wally) Dombrowski, Chester (Pat), Victor (Loretta), Ray, and George (Millie) Gadzalinski, 18 grandchildren (her youngest grandchild was my sister Lorie born in July 1972) and 11 great-grandchildren (born between 1952-1972). Her youngest great-grandchild was Judith Stack born in Feb. 1972.
Busia was buried on Dec. 14th. (I was 13 years old).
NOTE: Both the death certificate and grave marker erroneously record the year of birth as "1894;" but in actuality it was 1890.
Also, since I have very little family information of those that remained in Poland, I'm not sure how many of her siblings survived her. It's possible that her brother Stefan also immigrated to America and lived in St. Joseph, Indiana. But of this I am not certain. My grandmother also had an unknown number nieces and nephews in Poland. One niece I am sure about is Jozefa Witkowska, b. 1911, the daughter of her brother Andrzej and his wife Karolina. Also two known cousins were Teofil "Philip" Witkowski (1883-1940) and Franciszek "Frank" Witkowski (1885-1922) in Chicago, Illinois (sons of her uncle Piotr Witkowski).
Possible info found about her parents: Tomasz Witkowski was probably born about 1854 and he had he had at least two younger brothers (Piotr and Antoni). Marjanna Witkowska was born about 1859 (not confirmed). Indications are that both of her parents died in Poland but it is unknown when; probably in the 1920's or 1930's.
Zofia was the second daughter and the fifth of six children born to Tomasz (b. 1854) and Marjanna (Ciechocka) (b. 1859) Witkowski in the village of Czermno, Mazowieckie, Poland.
Sister of Andrzej (b. 1882), Antoni (b. 1884), Stefan (b. 1886), Magdalena (b. 1888) & Jozefa (b. 1892). Her brother Antoni, a music teacher, was mercilessly shot by Russian Bolsheviks in 1917 on the property of the family farm.
Czermno [ˈt͡ʂɛrmnɔ] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Gąbin, within Płock County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It lies approximately 4 kilometres (2 mi) east of Gąbin, 18 km (11 mi) south of Płock, and 86 km (53 mi) west of Warsaw.
She married Czeslaw Gadzalinski (b. Nov 1886) on 29 Jan 1912 in the village of Czermno, Mazowieckie, Poland in a Roman Catholic ceremony. They had 7 children. The first (Matylda/Mathilda) was born in Poland in March 1913; the other six, were born between 1922 and 1930 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. My dad, George, was the youngest (born on her 40th birthday).
Her husband immigrated to America in June 1913. Sophie and daughter Mathilda were able to join husband and father eight years later when Czeslaw saved enough for their passage. They immigrated on the ship "Potomac" May 22, 1921 which arrived at the port of Boston on June 10, 1921. The immigration record shows my grandmother's age at 28 but she gave her date of birth as 8/27/1892 to appear to be two years younger. They reunited with Czeslaw in Milwaukee, Wisconsin a few days later in June 1921 where they lived all their lives. (Second child Sophie was born 9 months later in March 1922). Their third child, Irene, born Nov. 1923, died in Jan. 1925.
Most of the grandchildren were born in the 40's, 50's and 60's but her first grandchild was Shirley Szymanski, born Sept. 1931.
Widowed in Aug 1933, my grandmother supported her large family with work as a cleaning woman and as a seamstress. She was a very hard working woman. She never remarried. Busia was the jovial family matriarch, a devout Catholic, and an excellent cook. Easter was the main holiday during the year when everyone gathered at Busia's house for Easter ham and kielbasa. She was lovingly called "Busia" (an alternative name for Grandma in Polish) by everyone in the family. She had a warm, loving heart and her life centered on her family.
Busia lived at 3015 S. 7th St. in Milwaukee (a Polish neighborhood)--where the family always gathered--from 1935 until her death (prior address was 2543 S. 6th St.). It was a 5 bedroom, 2 bath, 1320 sq ft bungalow. My childhood memories of Busia and Busia's house was playing on the front porch, her old black Singer sewing machine, and the delicious deli hot dogs and homemade rolls and tomato soup with kulski noodles she often served for lunch for her grandchildren. Also, of course, her wonderful Polish foods--especially the kielbasa. She truly loved all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren! Basis also loved tending to her little backyard garden.
Busia's first great-grandchild, Roy Luecht, was born in July 1952.
Sophie Gadzalinski died in St. Francis Hospital from pulmonary crubolis due to deep-vein thrombosis at age 82. She was survived by her six children; Tillie (Harry) Serkowski, Sophie (Wally) Dombrowski, Chester (Pat), Victor (Loretta), Ray, and George (Millie) Gadzalinski, 18 grandchildren (her youngest grandchild was my sister Lorie born in July 1972) and 11 great-grandchildren (born between 1952-1972). Her youngest great-grandchild was Judith Stack born in Feb. 1972.
Busia was buried on Dec. 14th. (I was 13 years old).
NOTE: Both the death certificate and grave marker erroneously record the year of birth as "1894;" but in actuality it was 1890.
Also, since I have very little family information of those that remained in Poland, I'm not sure how many of her siblings survived her. It's possible that her brother Stefan also immigrated to America and lived in St. Joseph, Indiana. But of this I am not certain. My grandmother also had an unknown number nieces and nephews in Poland. One niece I am sure about is Jozefa Witkowska, b. 1911, the daughter of her brother Andrzej and his wife Karolina. Also two known cousins were Teofil "Philip" Witkowski (1883-1940) and Franciszek "Frank" Witkowski (1885-1922) in Chicago, Illinois (sons of her uncle Piotr Witkowski).
Possible info found about her parents: Tomasz Witkowski was probably born about 1854 and he had he had at least two younger brothers (Piotr and Antoni). Marjanna Witkowska was born about 1859 (not confirmed). Indications are that both of her parents died in Poland but it is unknown when; probably in the 1920's or 1930's.
My beloved grandmother (Busia); she was the Gadzalinski family matriarch.
Zofia was the second daughter and the fifth of six children born to Tomasz (b. 1854) and Marjanna (Ciechocka) (b. 1859) Witkowski in the village of Czermno, Mazowieckie, Poland.
Sister of Andrzej (b. 1882), Antoni (b. 1884), Stefan (b. 1886), Magdalena (b. 1888) & Jozefa (b. 1892). Her brother Antoni, a music teacher, was mercilessly shot by Russian Bolsheviks in 1917 on the property of the family farm.
Czermno [ˈt͡ʂɛrmnɔ] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Gąbin, within Płock County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It lies approximately 4 kilometres (2 mi) east of Gąbin, 18 km (11 mi) south of Płock, and 86 km (53 mi) west of Warsaw.
She married Czeslaw Gadzalinski (b. Nov 1886) on 29 Jan 1912 in the village of Czermno, Mazowieckie, Poland in a Roman Catholic ceremony. They had 7 children. The first (Matylda/Mathilda) was born in Poland in March 1913; the other six, were born between 1922 and 1930 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. My dad, George, was the youngest (born on her 40th birthday).
Her husband immigrated to America in June 1913. Sophie and daughter Mathilda were able to join husband and father eight years later when Czeslaw saved enough for their passage. They immigrated on the ship "Potomac" May 22, 1921 which arrived at the port of Boston on June 10, 1921. The immigration record shows my grandmother's age at 28 but she gave her date of birth as 8/27/1892 to appear to be two years younger. They reunited with Czeslaw in Milwaukee, Wisconsin a few days later in June 1921 where they lived all their lives. (Second child Sophie was born 9 months later in March 1922). Their third child, Irene, born Nov. 1923, died in Jan. 1925.
Most of the grandchildren were born in the 40's, 50's and 60's but her first grandchild was Shirley Szymanski, born Sept. 1931.
Widowed in Aug 1933, my grandmother supported her large family with work as a cleaning woman and as a seamstress. She was a very hard working woman. She never remarried. Busia was the jovial family matriarch, a devout Catholic, and an excellent cook. Easter was the main holiday during the year when everyone gathered at Busia's house for Easter ham and kielbasa. She was lovingly called "Busia" (an alternative name for Grandma in Polish) by everyone in the family. She had a warm, loving heart and her life centered on her family.
Busia lived at 3015 S. 7th St. in Milwaukee (a Polish neighborhood)--where the family always gathered--from 1935 until her death (prior address was 2543 S. 6th St.). It was a 5 bedroom, 2 bath, 1320 sq ft bungalow. My childhood memories of Busia and Busia's house was playing on the front porch, her old black Singer sewing machine, and the delicious deli hot dogs and homemade rolls and tomato soup with kulski noodles she often served for lunch for her grandchildren. Also, of course, her wonderful Polish foods--especially the kielbasa. She truly loved all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren! Basis also loved tending to her little backyard garden.
Busia's first great-grandchild, Roy Luecht, was born in July 1952.
Sophie Gadzalinski died in St. Francis Hospital from pulmonary crubolis due to deep-vein thrombosis at age 82. She was survived by her six children; Tillie (Harry) Serkowski, Sophie (Wally) Dombrowski, Chester (Pat), Victor (Loretta), Ray, and George (Millie) Gadzalinski, 18 grandchildren (her youngest grandchild was my sister Lorie born in July 1972) and 11 great-grandchildren (born between 1952-1972). Her youngest great-grandchild was Judith Stack born in Feb. 1972.
Busia was buried on Dec. 14th. (I was 13 years old).
NOTE: Both the death certificate and grave marker erroneously record the year of birth as "1894;" but in actuality it was 1890.
Also, since I have very little family information of those that remained in Poland, I'm not sure how many of her siblings survived her. It's possible that her brother Stefan also immigrated to America and lived in St. Joseph, Indiana. But of this I am not certain. My grandmother also had an unknown number nieces and nephews in Poland. One niece I am sure about is Jozefa Witkowska, b. 1911, the daughter of her brother Andrzej and his wife Karolina. Also two known cousins were Teofil "Philip" Witkowski (1883-1940) and Franciszek "Frank" Witkowski (1885-1922) in Chicago, Illinois (sons of her uncle Piotr Witkowski).
Possible info found about her parents: Tomasz Witkowski was probably born about 1854 and he had he had at least two younger brothers (Piotr and Antoni). Marjanna Witkowska was born about 1859 (not confirmed). Indications are that both of her parents died in Poland but it is unknown when; probably in the 1920's or 1930's.
Zofia was the second daughter and the fifth of six children born to Tomasz (b. 1854) and Marjanna (Ciechocka) (b. 1859) Witkowski in the village of Czermno, Mazowieckie, Poland.
Sister of Andrzej (b. 1882), Antoni (b. 1884), Stefan (b. 1886), Magdalena (b. 1888) & Jozefa (b. 1892). Her brother Antoni, a music teacher, was mercilessly shot by Russian Bolsheviks in 1917 on the property of the family farm.
Czermno [ˈt͡ʂɛrmnɔ] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Gąbin, within Płock County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It lies approximately 4 kilometres (2 mi) east of Gąbin, 18 km (11 mi) south of Płock, and 86 km (53 mi) west of Warsaw.
She married Czeslaw Gadzalinski (b. Nov 1886) on 29 Jan 1912 in the village of Czermno, Mazowieckie, Poland in a Roman Catholic ceremony. They had 7 children. The first (Matylda/Mathilda) was born in Poland in March 1913; the other six, were born between 1922 and 1930 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. My dad, George, was the youngest (born on her 40th birthday).
Her husband immigrated to America in June 1913. Sophie and daughter Mathilda were able to join husband and father eight years later when Czeslaw saved enough for their passage. They immigrated on the ship "Potomac" May 22, 1921 which arrived at the port of Boston on June 10, 1921. The immigration record shows my grandmother's age at 28 but she gave her date of birth as 8/27/1892 to appear to be two years younger. They reunited with Czeslaw in Milwaukee, Wisconsin a few days later in June 1921 where they lived all their lives. (Second child Sophie was born 9 months later in March 1922). Their third child, Irene, born Nov. 1923, died in Jan. 1925.
Most of the grandchildren were born in the 40's, 50's and 60's but her first grandchild was Shirley Szymanski, born Sept. 1931.
Widowed in Aug 1933, my grandmother supported her large family with work as a cleaning woman and as a seamstress. She was a very hard working woman. She never remarried. Busia was the jovial family matriarch, a devout Catholic, and an excellent cook. Easter was the main holiday during the year when everyone gathered at Busia's house for Easter ham and kielbasa. She was lovingly called "Busia" (an alternative name for Grandma in Polish) by everyone in the family. She had a warm, loving heart and her life centered on her family.
Busia lived at 3015 S. 7th St. in Milwaukee (a Polish neighborhood)--where the family always gathered--from 1935 until her death (prior address was 2543 S. 6th St.). It was a 5 bedroom, 2 bath, 1320 sq ft bungalow. My childhood memories of Busia and Busia's house was playing on the front porch, her old black Singer sewing machine, and the delicious deli hot dogs and homemade rolls and tomato soup with kulski noodles she often served for lunch for her grandchildren. Also, of course, her wonderful Polish foods--especially the kielbasa. She truly loved all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren! Basis also loved tending to her little backyard garden.
Busia's first great-grandchild, Roy Luecht, was born in July 1952.
Sophie Gadzalinski died in St. Francis Hospital from pulmonary crubolis due to deep-vein thrombosis at age 82. She was survived by her six children; Tillie (Harry) Serkowski, Sophie (Wally) Dombrowski, Chester (Pat), Victor (Loretta), Ray, and George (Millie) Gadzalinski, 18 grandchildren (her youngest grandchild was my sister Lorie born in July 1972) and 11 great-grandchildren (born between 1952-1972). Her youngest great-grandchild was Judith Stack born in Feb. 1972.
Busia was buried on Dec. 14th. (I was 13 years old).
NOTE: Both the death certificate and grave marker erroneously record the year of birth as "1894;" but in actuality it was 1890.
Also, since I have very little family information of those that remained in Poland, I'm not sure how many of her siblings survived her. It's possible that her brother Stefan also immigrated to America and lived in St. Joseph, Indiana. But of this I am not certain. My grandmother also had an unknown number nieces and nephews in Poland. One niece I am sure about is Jozefa Witkowska, b. 1911, the daughter of her brother Andrzej and his wife Karolina. Also two known cousins were Teofil "Philip" Witkowski (1883-1940) and Franciszek "Frank" Witkowski (1885-1922) in Chicago, Illinois (sons of her uncle Piotr Witkowski).
Possible info found about her parents: Tomasz Witkowski was probably born about 1854 and he had he had at least two younger brothers (Piotr and Antoni). Marjanna Witkowska was born about 1859 (not confirmed). Indications are that both of her parents died in Poland but it is unknown when; probably in the 1920's or 1930's.
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See more Gadzalinski or Witkowska memorials in:
- Saint Adalberts Cemetery Gadzalinski or Witkowska
- Milwaukee Gadzalinski or Witkowska
- Milwaukee County Gadzalinski or Witkowska
- Wisconsin Gadzalinski or Witkowska
- USA Gadzalinski or Witkowska
- Find a Grave Gadzalinski or Witkowska
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