Olimpia Kozlowski Szpak

Olimpia Szpak, 97, of Kansas City, MO passed away March 3, 2011 at home. Visitation will be held at the McGilley & Sheil Chapel on Sunday, March 6th from 4-6pm with rosary at 5:30pm. Mass of Christian Burial held at St. Mark's Church, 3736 Lee's Summit Rd. Indep., MO, on Monday at 9am with burial to follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Olimpia was born to Martin & Veronica Kozlowski in Wilna, Poland on January 10, 1914. She met and married Walter Szpak in Germany while she was in a German forced labor camp during WWII. They came to the US in 1950 from Poland and settled in east KCMO in a house they built and lived there for over 50 years. As a devout catholic she was a member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church until its closing and then transferred to Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church. She was a member of the Altar Society. Her hobbies included crocheting and knitting. Olimpia was a wonderful mother, grandmother, great- grandmother and mother-in-law. Olimpia was preceded in death by her husband, Walter in 1973. She is survived by a son, Anthony Szpak (Karen Messany) of Overland Park, KS; daughters, Irene Garrett (Larry) of Indep., MO and Bernice Sienkiewicz (Jerry) of KCMO; 8 grandchildren, Laura Dorsch (Stephen), Lonnie Garrett (Nicki), Damian Sienkiewicz (Sally), Jeremy Sienkiewicz (Cathe), Matthew Sienkiewicz, Monica Gill (John), Anthony Szpak (Jessica) and Antoinette Ibarra (Dustin) and 9 great- grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark's Catholic Church. Condolences may be left at www.mcgilleysheil.com. Arr: McGilley & Sheil Funeral Home, 11924 E. 47th St, Kansas City, MO 64133, 816-353-6555 Published in Kansas City Star on March 4, 2011.