Danuta "Diane" Plussa

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, Danuta “Diane” Plussa at the age of 90. Diane was happily enjoying a family vacation in Florida when she became suddenly and gravely ill, and on January 19, 2025, she went on to her heavenly home. She passed away peacefully with her son and daughter at her side.

Diane was a beautiful, kind, generous, gentle, and joyful soul. One would never know what an extraordinarily strong and resilient survivor she was after facing unimaginable childhood atrocities during WWII. Diane was born in Skalat, Poland in 1934, and had a joyful early childhood there with her parents and two younger sisters. Terror first hit Diane when her father, Kazimierz, was arrested by the NKVD in 1940, and sent to a labor camp in Siberia. Soon after, in the darkness of night, the Soviet Secret Police forced Diane, her mother, and sisters onto a crowded, rattling, and freezing cattle-car. They traveled for six horrific weeks on that train car amidst starvation, desperation, illness, and death. They were taken to the remote, frigid village of Simipolka, Kazakhstan where they lived huddled near the doorway of a Russian family’s rustic home. Diane often spoke of the harsh living conditions there, the cold, the deep snow, the hunger, and the frightening packs of wolves outside the windows. In 1941, Joseph Stalin signed an amnesty agreement which would release civilian detainees and the Polish military. Diane’s father was released from the labor camp and would begin his search for his daughters and wife.

Diane, her mother, and sisters would begin their long and treacherous road to freedom. Polish refugee camps were beginning to form, and Diane and her family traveled through Uzbekistan, where the climate was unbearable. Malnutrition, dysentery, typhoid, and malaria were epidemic. Sadly, Diane’s mother and youngest sister passed away there. Her other sister passed away when their harrowing trek took them to Iran. Afterwards, Diane’s arduous road took her to Lebanon, where she finally found health and happiness with an angelic nurse named Maria, who would eventually become her stepmother. Maria’s nieces would become “sisters” to Diane, who had been so very lonely and ill for so long.

Diane’s father was to be transferred to England, which began another seemingly endless journey. Diane traveled with an English convoy, which moved through the middle of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Diane’s life was once again spared as the bus convoy she was taking through Israel was riddled with machine gun shots and many on board died. Her journey continued through Egypt, then onto ships that would take her to England. Diane attended boarding school there, and afterwards she and her family traveled to the U.S. to pursue the “American Dream.”

Diane settled in Chicago and lived most of her adult life there, with a recent move to Harwood Heights. She met her future husband, Jerzy Plussa, in 1951 and had two children, Mark and Renata. Diane had a happy and full life and loved her family above all else. It was through the grace of God, that Diane survived the harrowing dangers of wartime and its aftermath. Diane was never bitter or angry for what she had to endure, but rather, led a life of gratitude, simplicity, peace, appreciation, and kindness. She was a longtime Board Member of The Siberian Society, a member of the Polonia Club at St. Constance Parish, and for many years she marched in the annual Polish Constitution Day parade in Chicago in order to proudly carry The Siberian Society banner with her children and grandchildren. She loved God, her immediate and extended family, and friends deeply. Diane was a precious and miraculous gift to us all. and we will treasure her in our hearts and souls forever.

Diane is preceded in death by her beloved husband Jerzy Plussa. She is survived by her son Mark (Kay) Plussa and daughter Renata (Joseph) Carey. Loving grandchildren are Kyle (Lauren) Plussa, Nicole (Justin) Nienow, Joseph Carey II, and Nicholas Carey. Great-granddaughter is Autumn Plussa. Diane is survived by her brothers, Zbigniew (Connie) Lorenc and Casimir (Theresa) Lorenc. Diane is preceded in death by close cousin, Krystyna (the late Stefan) Ziemlo and is survived by close cousin, Maryla (the late Mietek) Dudziak. She is also survived by close cousins, Barbara (the late Zbyszek) Basinski and Wojciech (Jadwiga) Polak.

Please consider a donation in Diane’s name to the American Red Cross, which offered her assistance, comfort and simple, welcome supplies when she was a child on her journey to freedom/

Visitation for Danuta will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Malec & Sons Funeral Home, 6000 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60646. A final viewing and Chapel prayers will take place on Friday, February 7, 2025, at 9:00 AM at Malec & Sons Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Friday, February 7, 10:00 at St. Constance Catholic Church, 5843 W Strong St, Chicago, IL 60630. Interment will take place afterward at Maryhill Catholic Cemetery, 8600 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL 60714.