Halina Irena Weihrauch (Matura)

Halina was a loving mother to Krystyna, and her grandchildren Anna-Maria and Stefan. She found joy in her great-grandchildren Alayna, Caleb, Audrey, Sidney, Monica and Julie. She was also a step-grandmother to Lisa and Anita and cared for her step-great-grandchildren Calvin and Amber. Halina is survived by her sister Mira Horoszowzki. Halina is pre-deceased by her brother Zdzislaw and her husbands Ernest Matura and Herbert Weihrauch.

Halina was born to Feliks and Jadwiga Kaźmierczak in Łódź, Poland on December 20, 1924. Halina was the eldest of three children and spend the early years of her life in her native Poland.

She married Ernest on June 5, 1943 before he left to serve with the Allied Forces in World War II. Halina and Ernest were separated for five years. Halina’s bravery saw her cross a freezing river out of Poland in December, 1946. She waited in Germany for her travel documents and for Ernest to come meet her. Reunited in 1947, Halina and Ernest travelled from Germany to England where they would finally be able to live as husband and wife.

Joy arrived on February 5, 1948 with the birth of Krystyna Jadwiga. The family lived in army barracks in Nettlebed, England while Ernest completed his law degree at Oxford University.

The Maturas arrived by ship at Halifax, in June 1951 and boarded a train to Toronto. The Maturas began their Canadian life in Toronto. Halina started working at the Artistic Jewelers factory on Richmond Street while Ernest pursued his L.L.M. at Osgoode Hall during the day and worked cleaning out freight cars for CN Rail at night.

After five years at Artistic Jewelers, Halina started working as a teller at the Canadian Bank of Commerce. Halina who loved working with numbers was happy working at the Canadian Bank of Commerce.

She became a Supervisor there. In fact, everywhere she worked she would win a supervisory role.

In 1960, Ernest earned his Master of Laws degree and opened his own practice where Halina joined him. From their beautiful office at 10 Adelaide Street East, Halina and Ernest worked in service of the community on various types of files like immigration, estate and real estate law. The Maturas were involved in helping new immigrants settle -- even establishing the Credit Union at St. Stanislaw’s with other leaders in the Polish Community. They worked together until Ernest’s death in November, 1976.

Family was very important to Halina. Krystyna married Hoi Chi Tam in 1972. Halina reveled in her role as Babcia to Anna-Maria (Hanus) and Stefan who were born in 1973 and 1974, respectively. Halina loved being Babcia and she was so good at it. She took Hanus and Stefan everywhere, proudly introducing her grandchildren to her friends and community.

Halina began the next chapter of her life on a picturesque property in Beaverton, Ontario with her new husband Herbert. They tended to their sheep and chickens. They gardened and took advantage of all the wonderful things that Ontario has to offer. Summers were spent spoiling their grandchildren, taking them on adventures, swimming in rivers and fishing. To be closer to their family, Halina and Herbert moved to Langley, British Columbia in 1989 just after Krystyna’s marriage to Nirmal in 1988.

Halina was such a kind person. She had so many lovely qualities and it is impossible to name all of her achievements here. She was a brave and courageous woman who worked tirelessly to create opportunities for family. Babcia had a lifelong love of learning. She loved to read and particularly loved mathematics. While living in Cobourg, Halina earned her high school equivalency.

Halina enjoyed serving her community and was deeply patriotic. She was proud to be Canadian and could never sing ‘O Canada’ without her eyes being wet. She lent her creativity to the service of people. As a member of the Catholic Women’s League for more than 25 years, Halina served in soup kitchens, knit hats and scarves, acted as a driver and did whatever was required to be a comfort and a help.

In her final years in White Rock, Halina joined the Helpers of St. Ann crocheting her beloved baby blankets and knitting accessories for the homeless. There are more than 1000 babies that received a Babcia blanket over the years.

Babcia was a modern woman and often ahead of her time. She could do anything she put her mind to and had little tolerance for injustice or oppression. While she paid attention to politics, she paid equal attention to the business of her garden. She could grow her own food and make her own clothes. She was comfortable anywhere. She sang in choirs and also enjoyed going for long drives. Halina paid attention to detail and was able to express her creativity in the finest of ways – cross-stitches, cotton crochet projects, and learning new languages.

Halina was a child of God and a devoted Catholic. She was the embodiment of Christianity’s greatest lesson: love your neighbor. Her lasting friendships are a testament to Halina’s great heart. These multi-generational friendships are a legacy that she has given to Krystyna, Hanus, Stefan and their children. Halina managed everything with great dignity and hope.

Halina was a doting mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was such a true friend. Though life was sometimes unkind, Halina would tell you that everything was under control.

She would tell you to enjoy your family as she did.

She would tell you to stand up and say, ‘Here I am’.

What a life she led!

What a woman she was!

We are so lucky and we miss you deeply, Babcia.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations made to a charity of choice. The family recommends:

Delta Hospice Society

https://deltahospice.org/dhs-donation-form/

BC Children's Hospital

https://secure.bcchf.ca/donate/donation-New.cfm?

Sick Kids foundation

https://secure.sickkidsfoundation.com/donate