SREBNIK, Mary (Tomaszewski) - It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Mary Srebnik, on Sunday, April 19, 2020 succumbing to the COVID-19 virus.
Mary, 97 years old, is predeceased by her husband, Zygmunt (Ziggy), her two brothers Jan (John) and Kazimierz (Casimir) and her two sisters, Zosia (Sophie) and Jadzia (Heddy).
She leaves behind a large family, her sister Irene, along with many nephews and nieces, never having children of her own.
Mary was born in Eastern Poland in March of 1923, the first of four children of Stefan and Alexandra Tomaszewski.
Her childhood was riddled with tragedy and difficulty, beginning with the loss of her mother in 1931, at the age of 8. Her father, Stefan, remarried and had two more children, which allowed life to somewhat normalize for Mary up until the outbreak of World War II.
In February of 1940, five months after war broke out, the entire Tomaszewski family was arrested at gun point by the Soviets and deported to Siberia, for forced labour. Mary described her time in Siberia as an absolute nightmare, where she and the entire family faced bitter cold, starvation, hard labour and constant threats by the Soviet authorities. To add to the tragedy, her step-mother, became gravely ill and passed away, leaving Mary as the matriarch of the family, now responsible for her younger siblings.
She courageously dedicated herself to care for her siblings, especially her sisters, whom she tended to for the duration of their time in Siberia and post their release. After spending one and half years in the Siberian Gulag, the family was released as part of a greater amnesty, allowing them to travel South to join with other Polish refugees and the hope of finding a better place to settle.
Their trek South took months and was filled with extreme difficulties and danger, including a six-hundred kilometer raft journey, hunger, lice and other illnesses. The journey led them from Siberia, down through the Urals, across the Caspian Sea into Iran and finally into East Africa, where Mary and her sisters remained in a Polish refugee camp until 1948.
Mary and her sisters eventually made their way to England, where Mary reacquainted herself with a family friend, whom she married in 1949. Mary and Zygmunt found their way to Canada in the early 50’s, eventually buying a Farm in the Holland Marsh in Ontario, where she farmed for the next sixty years.
Mary spent her life supporting family, friends and causes in any way she could. She dedicated herself to her work, her family and her religion, being a dedicated Catholic. She was a beautiful soul that will be sorely missed.
A sincere thank you from me, Les Tomaszewski, her Godson, along with my brother’s Richard, Jerry and Henry (her nephews, son’s of her late brother Kazimierz), for the remarkable kindness and support you have provided us. You will always be in our hearts, loved forever.
A visitation will be held at Cardinal Funeral Homes, Bathurst Chapel, Toronto on April 23, 2020 from 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM.
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