Janina Piotrowski

Janina lived a life defined by compassion, strength, and unwavering devotion to her loved ones. Deeply grounded in faith, prayer was ever on her lips and in her heart. Her legacy of love, resilience, and joy will continue to live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her.

Janina - lovingly known as Jasia - was born on August 13, 1934, in Smolina, Poland (now part of Belarus), to Michal and Jadwiga Skuratowicz. She was the eldest - by mere minutes - of four sisters: her twin, Marysia, and sisters Lonia and Jadzia.

Her childhood was profoundly shaped by history. With the outbreak of World War II, her family was torn from their beautiful and bountiful homeland and deported to Germany, where they endured forced labor at the Bauer camp. After the war ended in 1945, the family spent time in a refugee camp, uncertain of what the future might hold.

In November 1949, the Skuratowicz family emigrated to the United States, arriving in New Orleans as part of the first group of post-war refugees. They were welcomed with celebration and great fanfare by the local community. The family eventually settled in Conway, Arkansas, where a vibrant Polish community had formed.

Drawn by opportunity and community, Jasia and her father later traveled by truck from Conway to Chicago. Once employment and housing were secured, the rest of the family joined them. Chicago’s strong Polish community became an enduring source of friendship and purpose for Jasia. She reunited with fellow scouts she had known from the refugee camp and formed lifelong bonds with others whose stories mirrored her own.

A devoted leader and mentor, Jasia helped establish one of the first Polish Brownie troops (gromada) in Chicago and remained actively involved in scouting throughout her life. She was also deeply engaged in numerous Polish and cultural organizations, including the Knights of Dąbrowski, the Polish National Alliance, and the Polish Museum of America. Her faith community at St. Constance Parish was especially dear to her, where she participated in the Women’s Club, the Polish Club and choir.

Jasia is survived by her loving children: Andrew (Theresa) Piotrowski, Mary (Mark) Baranek, and Alicja (Chester) Majsterek; her cherished grandchildren: Stephanie Piotrowski, Victoria Piotrowski, Kasia Baranek, Łukasz Majsterek, and Izabella Majsterek; and her sisters: Maria Mizera, Leona Godlewski, and Harriet Pinkowski. She is also survived by her “sisters of another mother,” Helena Scanlon, Mary Skuratowicz, and Diana Skuratowicz, along with many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews great-grandnieces, great-grand nephews, and countless friends around the world.

Family and friends are invited to gather, share memories, and honor Jasia’s remarkable life. A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Malec & Sons Funeral Home, 6000 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago.

Final visitation and funeral services will take place on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at St. Constance Church, 5843 West Strong Street, Chicago, with visitation from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, followed by Mass at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow at Maryhill Cemetery in Niles.

A reception will follow at Lone Tree Manor, 7730 North Milwaukee Avenue, Niles.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to:

Polish Scouting Organization of Illinois – designated for Camp Norwid

6434 W. Belmont Ave.

Chicago, IL 60634

Or

The Dabrowski Foundation (formerly Knights of Dabrowski)

P.O. Box 526

Itasca, IL 60143

www.dabrowskifund.org

Her Journey’s Just Begun

Don’t think of her as gone away, her journey’s just begun

Life holds so many facets, this earth is only one.

Just think of her as resting from the sorrows and the tears

In a place of warmth and comfort where there are no days or years.

Think how she must be wishing that we could know today

How nothing but our sadness, can really pass away.

And think of her as living in the hearts of those she touched

For nothing loved is ever lost and she was loved so much.

By Unknown