Franciszka Drewniak

Franciszka was born in Poland, on 7 September 1911, in the village of Postolowka, province of Tarnopol.

Franciszka lived through the First and Second World Wars and witnessed many atrocities in Poland. Her father immigrated twice to USA before the First World War. He worked there for some years before returning to his native country as a prosperous man, able to give his family a very good life. He wanted to bring his three daughters to the States and prepared all the documents, but Franciszka's grandmother did not allow them to go. In 1921, Franciszka's father returned to Poland and was later married Anna Krawiec.

On 9 May 1931, Franciszka married Jozef Drewniak. Together they built a life on a beautiful piece of farmland, which was considered substantial in those days. They were blessed with three children. Their new home was over-flowing of Polish character, but their good life did not last. When 1939 arrived, Hitler attacked Poland and Hell on earth began. Jozef was mobilized to the Polish army and fought the Germans in the September Campaign. Franciszka remained at home with her children and mother-in-law.

In late fall of 1945, the Repatriation from the Kresy borderlands to western Poland forced the family to leave everything behind. The journey to new Poland with small, hungry and half bare children took three weeks by cargo train, preceded by six weeks of waiting in the winter, in a shed made of straw, for the train to arrive.

They started a new life not far from the German border. In the spring of 1971, Franciszka's son Tadeusz immigrated to Canada followed by her daughter, Wanda, in the fall of 1977. In May 1981, Franciszka and Jozef also emigrated to Canada. Once again, they left everything behind - their home, farm and pension, but they were very happy to be with their children and family from both sides. They helped with work on the farm in Oakburn, Manitoba, where they lived with Wanda and her husband, Boris. Franciszka and Jozef celebrated their 50th, 60th and 65th wedding anniversaries happily in Canada.

Franciszka passed away in Winnipeg on 1 January 2007 at the age of xx years. She was buried in the Holy Ghost Cemetery.