Mary Irene (Bohdan) Kaziewicz was born on October 3, 1938 in the village of Dalidowice, in what was then considered the eastern border of Poland. She died in hospice on July 13, 2018 after a long and brave fight against a neurological illness.
In July of 1943, during the height of WWII, at the innocent age of 4, her village, family farm and quiet rural life were destroyed by the German Nazis. Her family was forcibly taken from its homeland and sent to a Nazi slave labor camp in Westphalia, Germany. She, her parents, and her sisters endured many hardships during the war yet survived its’ horrors by the grace of God. Her most impressionable years were lived surrounded by war.
Mary came to the United States in 1949 as an 11-year old war refugee and settled in Elizabeth, NJ. She attended St. Adalbert’s Grade School in Elizabeth and graduated from Battin High School in Elizabeth in 1957.
She married U.S. Army Korean War hero Sergeant Stanley Kaziewicz in 1959 and raised her two daughters in Linden, NJ. Mary worked as a secretary and homemaker and has lived in Manahawkin, NJ since 1994.
She is predeceased by her husband Stanley of 58 years and by her parents Alexandra and Boleslaw Bohdan. She is survived by her oldest daughter US Army Captain Suzanne Taussig and her husband Andrew Taussig, youngest daughter and ever-loving caregiver Alicia Kaziewicz, her grandsons US Army Captain Stephen Casares and his wife Sarah, and US Army Captain Michael Casares and his wife Grit. Both grandsons are graduates of West Point and she was immensely proud of them. She is also survived by her sisters: Mrs. Danuta Bak, Mrs. Josephine Rudnicki, Mrs. Agnes Plotkin, Mrs. Theresa Schiffman, Mrs. Lily Reiman and her brothers John and George Bohdan. She also leaves behind her brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, and grandnieces and nephews.
Mary cared for everyone in her life and now it is time for her to be at peace.
Visitation and prayers will be held on Thursday, July 19, 2018 from 5:00pm-8:30pm with a Blessing at 5:30pm at the Thos L. Shinn Funeral Home, 10 Hilliard Dr., Manahawkin, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30am on Friday, July 20, 2018 at St. Mary of The Pines Catholic Church, Bishop Lane, Manahawkin,NJ.
A Eulogy Ceremony will be held Friday, July 20, 2018 at 12:30pm at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 350 Provinceline Road, Wrightstown, NJ.
Mary loved flowers so please feel free to send them in her honor. To leave online condolences for the family, please visit www.shinnfuneralhome.com
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