Adeline Zachariasiewicz

Long-time Polish-American activist Adeline Zachariasiewicz of Chevy Chase died of congestive heart failure February 16, 2011. She was 92. Mrs. Zachariasiewicz was born January 10, 1919, in Wallingford, Connecticut, the daughter of Lucian and Stacia Nowinski. After high school, she and her family lived in Poland for three years where she studied ballet at Taciana Wysocka School in Warsaw. She returned from Poland and attended the McDowell School of Fashion Design in New York and then joined her parents in the family business, The Nowinski Bridal Shop, in Bayonne, New Jersey. Mrs. Zachariasiewicz liked to say that her lifelong interest in and support of Poland and Polish culture started in 1927 when she was eight years old. At the time, her family lived in Connecticut. After terrible floods devastated large areas of Poland that year, her father gave her a coffee can and placed her on a street corner to collect donations for flood relief. This activism culminated decades later in what she considered her greatest achievement and honor when she was awarded the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. The Polish state awards this order to Poles and to citizens of other countries who render great service to the nation. Mrs. Zachariasiewicz, following her parents' example, became a staunch member and benefactor of The Kosciuszko Foundation. The organization fosters and promotes cultural and educational exchanges between Poland and the United States and works to increase understanding and appreciation of Polish culture in America. She was a debutante at the first Kosciuszko Foundation Ball in New York in 1941. Twenty-two years later her daughter also made her debut at the annual ball. And some 40 years after that Mrs. Zachariasiewicz served as the Honorary Chairwoman of the Debutante Council. Adeline Zachariasiewicz was active in a great many local and national Polonia organizations. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the local chapter of the Friends of Pope John Paul II Foundation. She was also a member of the Polish American Congress, the Polish American Arts Association, and the Breast Cancer Prevention Program for Poland. She was a past chairwoman of the Polonaise Ball of the Polish Combatants Association of Washington. She leaves behind her beloved husband, Walter, to whom she was married for 62 years. Adeline met her future husband in Poland before World War II at a summer meeting for young leaders from abroad, including the U. S. Mr. Zachariasiewicz was in charge of that program as the Director of the Youth Division of the World League of Poles Abroad. The organization's purpose was to build bridges between worldwide Polonia and Poland. She never expected they would meet again after the war. He is a veteran of the Polish Army and a survivor of Soviet prisons and cruel Soviet gulags who came to the United States as a political refugee. From the very beginning of his life in his adopted country, he was instrumental in organizing the Polish-American Immigration and Relief Committee in New York. That organization helped to bring to the U.S. over 32,000 former victims of Soviet and German deportations to remake their lives in this country. Walter and Adeline's home was always open to the victims of the last World War. During the war, after Walter was expelled from Russia, he served in several positions of the London-based Polish Government in exile. He was posted to Turkey in the liaison office with the Polish Underground. He also served in Italy as the Polish Government delegate in charge of refugee programs. Two years ago he published a book which he dedicated to Adeline as his most significant inspiration in all his activities. The book is the story of Polonia efforts in the United States on behalf of a free Poland. The book was highly praised by many important dignitaries in Poland. Walter Zachariasiewicz has received many awards from the Polish Government and from the Polish-American community. Most recently the President of Poland decorated him with one of Poland's highest awards. But the decoration which Walter most cherished is the "Pride of Polonia" Award he received at the Polish shrine in Doylestown, PA. Many friends and dignitaries from Washington attended. He often is referred to as the icon of Polonia and his wife, Adeline, took great pride in his many achievements. Walter retired as an executive in the U.S. Postal Service. Adeline and Walter traveled extensively. They visited many countries over the years but Poland and Walter's native Krakow were almost always on the itinerary. She was very fortunate to meet in person in Rome the beloved son of Poland, Pope John Paul II. Her husband, by appointment of the Pope, served on the prestigious board of directors of the John Paul II Foundation in Rome for 16 years. A most moving moment for the couple was a private audience with the Pontiff on Walter's 90th birthday. At that meeting, the Pope conferred a special blessing on Walter. The last few months of her life Adeline suffered greatly but with admirable courage. The family has received many expressions of sorrow from friends in this country as well as Poland because she was so loved by so many. People were naturally attracted to Adeline because of her warm heart and openness. She, in turn, loved everybody she met. She enjoyed life to the fullest. Mrs. Zachariasiewicz was the mother of Danuta, Robert and Jan; grandmother of Dana, Robert, Jean, Michael and Stevenson; and great grandmother of Lauren, Caleb, Jake, Luke, Benjamin, Sydney, Robert, and Alice. Her brother, Lucian, was killed in 1944 in World War II. There will be a formal memorial service with eulogies at Joseph Gawler's Sons Funeral Home, 5130 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, Friday, February 25, 6-8 pm. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday, February 26 at 9:30 a.m, at Our Lady Queen of Poland Church, 9700 Rosensteel Ave., Silver Spring, MD. Interment will follow at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, PA. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in her name to the Friends of John Paul II Foundation, 9700 Rosensteel Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910, or to a charity of your choice.

Arrangements under the direction of Joseph Gawler's Sons Inc., Washington, DC.