Ewa Paliwoda

Ewa Wolniak Pekala Paliwoda, age 75, took her last breath peacefully with her only daughter, Agnes Pekala, by her side, the morning of Sunday January 19, 2025 at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. She was born in Czestochowa, Poland and was the youngest surviving child of 3. Ewa emigrated to Canada in the early 70’s to marry her first husband Jan Pekala. Jan passed a few years after and she made the strongest and toughest decision to remain in Canada to give her daughter better opportunities. She may have been unable to speak English at the time, had little to no family in Canada and had no employment. However, with only a high school diploma, severe determination and finding her chosen family she made it all work out. It wasn’t always easy but it was always enough with love. Ewa was a force to be reckoned with but she wore her heart on her sleeve and would help anyone that had less than her. She came into this world as she left it, full of chutzpah and under her own terms.

I would like to sincerely thank the palliative care team at St. Michael’s hospital for the loving care my mom received as the Glioblastoma took her so quickly. It’s with deepest gratitude to the team for the amazing additional support they provided me during this overwhelming journey. In lieu of flowers, donations can either be made to St. Michael’s hospital or Princess Margaret Cancer Research.