Marysia (nee Makowski) Ligocki

Born in Gostyn, Poland to Stanislawa and Jukub Makowski, Marysia was sixth-born in a family of seven children. She was predeceased by her father and three siblings, Stasiu, Stefan, and Stasia Makowski by the time Liberation had arrived in 1945, and more recently predeceased by brothers Leon (late of Calgary), Janek (late of Elblag, Poland), and Kazimierz (late of Calgary). Marysia was the last surviving member of her siblings. 

After mandatory expulsion from Nazi occupied Poland in 1941, her family was transported to Southern Austria where they were appointed work detail. After the Liberation in 1945, her family was further mobilized to Barletta, Italy where Marysia was able to continue her schooling in a boarding school made available to the Polish refugees by the Italian Government. By 1949, the British Government opened resettlement camps throughout England and Marysia, along with her mother and two brothers Leon and Kazimierz, moved to Eastleigh, Hampshire as did a large portion of Polish refugees residing in Barletta. Marysia continued making a life for herself and her mother within the Hiltingbury Resettlement Camp in Eastleigh. She re-established her education in an Eastleigh Secondary School before going on to employment in the Eastleigh and adjacent Southampton area.

On August 4, 1956, she married Wladyslaw Ligocki and they doggedly built their new life together in Southampton where all three of their children, Bernadette, Ania, and Edward were born. She remained vigorously attached to her communities in Southampton: Church, School, and Polish community. Marysia was tireless in offering her assistance to those communities as well as to her friends and neighbours. In 1973, she emigrated with her family to Calgary where she was reunited with her brothers Leon and Kazik, who had moved with their young families to Calgary in 1965 and 1966 respectively.

Marysia rapidly and easily established attachments in Calgary through her Church and Polish communities. Her greatest joy during more recent years was the arrival of her Granddaughter Marta, born in 1990. Watching Marta grow up, pursue her education in Canada and England, and establish a career in Calgary was a source of immense pride to Marysia. She also cherished her relationships with all of her nephews and nieces in Calgary and in Poland. Marysia remained in vigorous contact with her first cousins in Poland to the very last.

Stricken by a stroke in April, 2015 with evolving congestive heart complications, Marysia struggled bravely with her illness until she was brought into permanent care at the Beverly Agecare, Calgary March of last year and ultimately taken to the Sarcee Carewest for her final months where she passed away with her ever-grieving husband there to console her and hold her hand.
 

God Bless you Marysia....
Daughter, Wife, Mother, Babcia, and Auntie

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