Janina Maria Bawoł, 78, passed away quietly at home in Calgary, on the morning of October 6th, 2026.

Janina or Jasia as she was called by her loving husband of 54 years, Zygmunt & her close friends and family, was born in Huta Złomy, Poland on September 1st, 1948. Jasia from an early age showed tenacity and perseverance. Coming from a small village in eastern Poland she faced many challenges and yet was able to get higher education and become a teacher herself – first in her hometown. Highly ideological she went on bringing education to unprivileged “Kresy” area in Poland. During one of those tenures she met Zygmunt, the future love of her life. Right in the beginning of their relationship Zygmunt suffered from a serious motorbike accident. Janina, despite unknown outcome stayed by his side until he fully recovered. Janina and Zygmunt were married in October 1971. They moved to small town “Horyniec Zdrój” where Janina worked as an elementary teacher and Zygmunt managed various engineering projects. Soon they welcomed kids Arkadiusz and Renata. Highly respected in their community through their work ethic and community involvement, nevertheless they decided to leave Poland as the political situation deteriorated.Janina left first, with 2 kids and joined her parents Eugenia and Bronislaw Molinski in Canada in 1989. Beginning life as an immigrant was difficult and Janina showed deep strength often juggling few jobs at once. Despite 2 very challenging years of family being apart they persevered and Zygmunt rejoined them in 1991. Janina worked as a nursing aide and later as a teacher’s aide with disabled kids until she joined her husband in his construction endeavours providing assistance and hands on help. She also worked as a teacher at the weekend Polish School in Calgary. Above all, she cherished her family and was always willing to extend a helping hand to anyone that needed it. She loved gardening and enjoyed experimenting with new varieties. Through her community involvement she met close friends and nurtured these relationships until her final days. She leaves behind in great sorrow, her husband Zygmunt, her son Arkadiusz and daughter Renata, daughter in law Iwona and son in law Angel as well as her beloved grandkids: Mateusz, Michał, Kuba, Jonathan and Izabella. She will also be dearly missed by so many in the polish community and church of which she was such an integral part of.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.