Krystyna Gruszczynski

July 7, 1927 – May 3, 2025

On May 3rd 2025, with her children by her side, Krystyna (Krysia) found peace. Krystyna is survived by her children Alicja and Adam (Mavis) and grandsons Patrick and James and predeceased by her husband Lechoslaw (Leszek) (2005) as well as sisters Alina (England), Jadwiga (Argentina), Irena (Canada) and brother Edek (England),

Krystyna was born in northeastern Poland, close to the Lithuanian border. In April 1940, along with her mother, 3 sisters and brother, Krystina was deported by the Soviets and interned in a labour camp on the east side of the Ural Mountains.

In 1942, as a result of the fortunate Soviet ally realignment, Krystyna, her sisters, brother and mother were repatriated by the British and relocated to a British organized displaced person’s camp in Africa (Tanzania). Krysia completed her high school in Africa, and at the conclusion of World War II, emigrated to England where she undertook training in nursing, earning her Nursing Certificate in 1952.

Along the way, she was smitten by a young, demobilized Polish soldier and she and Leszek married in 1951.

In 1952, the young married couple emigrated to Canada and settled in Saskatoon where Alicja was born in 1954. The little family of three moved to Edmonton in 1957 and Adam was born in 1959.

Krysia enjoyed singing, and for a number of years was a member of the Holy Rosary Church choir. She joined the Polish Women’s Federation and for a few seasons, was involved as one of the hosts at the Polish pavilion at Heritage Days.

Prior to her retirement from the nursing profession in the late ‘70s, Krysia nursed in a number of Edmonton hospitals and also as a private duty nurse.

Fiercely independent, for many years Krysia lived in the beautiful condominium that she and Leszek purchased in retirement. Eventually, her health concerns necessitated relocation to the Gerald Zetter Center (Edmonton).

Many thanks to the staff at Gerald Zetter for the excellent care provided Krystyna while she was a resident there.