Teresa Wisniewski

She was predeceased by her husband, John (1999) and her brother, Joe Maksymow (2012).

Loving mother of four daughters, Isabelle (Victor), Irene (Ron), Alice (John), and Liz (Alastair), eight grandchildren Christopher (Vanessa), Jeff (Laura), Josh (Leah), Monica, Emily (Spencer), Ben, Alexandra and Thomas, and four great grandchildren Raeya, Austin, William and Layla. Beloved sister-in-law to Theresa.

Teresa was born in a small village in Poland called Brzezina on Feb 12th, 1927.

In 1940, the family (Teresa’s mom, Maria, 2 older sisters and younger brother, Joe) was deported to Siberia and suffered unspeakable trauma under Stalin. These terrible memories were buried, and family records are incomplete, to this day.

Only Teresa and her brother Joe, would join the thousands of orphaned refugees shepherded by the Red Cross from Siberia to India. It was a long and arduous trek with many suffering from malnutrition, illness and even death.

Teresa and Joe finally made it to Camp Valivade near Kolhapur, India. It became their new home for the next 5 years.

After the war, mom’s brother, Joe, joined a seminary in the States and mom arrived at Pier 21 in Halifax - a sponsored war bride. She met our dad John, for the first time, in Toronto and they were married in 1951. They started their lives together, staying and working on a friend’s farm in Milton.

Mom was an outstanding homemaker in every sense of the word. She looked after everything, looked after all of us, always.

Mom modelled hard work and lifelong learning. As soon as we were in grade school, she attended night school to improve her English and then went on to do accounting courses – eventually working as a bookkeeper.

My parents’ goals for us were to ensure we would go to university and get a profession that would bring us fulfillment and security for the rest of our lives. And that’s exactly what happened.

Mom forged her own path through life, fiercely, independently, and always on her own terms. Her love and strength live on in all of us.

Funeral arrangements will be held at the Kane-Jerrett Funeral Home at 6191 Yonge Street in North York on Sunday February 18th, 2024.

Visitation will be from 11-12 followed by a church service in the chapel at noon.

In lieu of flowers, MEMORIAL DONATIONS in Teresa’s name, can go to the people and programs that made a huge difference in her care at:

Sunnybrook Academic Family Health Homebound Seniors Program (when using the link below please chose "Other" in the drop down field and type "Family Practice Homebound Program")

St. John's Rehab Program

Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU.