Diana was born to Stanley and Sophie (Atras) Zwolak in Bzowiec, Poland on June 2, 1931. Her childhood years and youth were marked by the highly charged pre-war issues of the time and WWII. Conflicts between Russia and Poland led to Russian incursions of many Polish communities bordering Russia. Diana’s family was among the many transported to work camps in Siberia via cattle cars. In 1942, with the help of the International Red Cross, Diana’s family and others were liberated from the work camps and became part of the great Polish diaspora of the time. Her father and two young brothers joined the Polish Army to fight the Nazis during the Italian campaign, most notably at the battle of Monte Cassino. Diana and her mother traveled with other war refugees for their relocation to Uganda, Africa. Diana would later share with her children amazing stories of her life in a small Polish community of refugees in a jungle clearing, befriended by local tribes, the antics of her pet monkey, living there happily until the conclusion of WWII. While her life there was full of wonder over the beauty of Africa and her people, Diana also suffered deeply as did other families of the time from a life uprooted by war, including a life-threatening bout of malaria in Tehran. After the war, she and her mother were reunited with her father and brothers in England, where they lived for 3 years until they emigrated to Canada. It was there she met her future husband, Henry Patrzalek, married and moved to Niagara Falls, NY. They also lived in Tonawanda, NY and lastly, Warsaw, NY where Henry and Diana raised five children claiming this as her happiest adventure in life!
Diana will be remembered by her family and friends for her passionate love for her family, Poland and her adopted country, the United States. Above all, she always professed her total and complete faith in Christ, whose presence she always felt – from times of deepest despair to those of highest joy. She proudly became a citizen of the USA and until her final days, was a fierce patriot of this beautiful country. Diana was an amazing cook and baker (her children still boast about her traditional holiday meals, soups and pies), talented seamstress, fashion designer, and artist (especially of theorem painting) and loved all creatures great and small. Having endured the depths of hardship from her earliest years, Diana advocated for the need of one to work hard, maintain the highest morals, show compassion for others and have total faith in God.
Diana is survived by her children; Renia Woods (Gary) of Concord, NH, Mary Patrzalek (Bill Levi) of Ossining, NY, Andrew Patrzalek (Brenda) of Williamson, NY, Joanne Drobyski (Bill) of Elm Grove, WI, Steven Patrzalek (Julie) of Cleveland, OH, and her brother, Chester Zwolak (Wanda) of Lancaster, NY. Her smile and joyful laugh will be deeply missed. Diana’s grandchildren; Natalie Woods, Janina (Yani) Madsen, Amanda Teter, John Levi, Lauren Drobyski, Jordan Patrzalek, Rachel Guardjado, Lorelle Gianelli, Aleksandra Patrzalek, Sean Patrzalek and Ben Patrzalek, and seven great-grandchildren all mourn the passing of Babcia. She also has numerous loving nieces and nephews in the St. Catharines, Ont. Canada and Buffalo, NY areas, as well as in Poland.
The family would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the staff and all who cared for Mom at Merrimack County Nursing Home during her final journey. Heartfelt thanks to Dr. Carey Rodd, Mary Nagel, Donna Croteau and the other nurses and aides, too numerous to name, who showered mom with affection, hugs and treated her as one of their own. Mom’s smiles were reflective of her fondness for them.
Burial will be in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, followed by a memorial service planned for next Spring.
Friends who wish are encouraged to contribute in Diana’s name to Second Start in Concord, NH by going to: www.second-start.org or to your local SPCA.
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