Obituary for Wladyslawa Bedkowski (Siedlarska)
WLADYSLAWA (VICKI) BEDKOWSKI April 21, 1946 – November 7, 2019.
Wladyslawa (Vicki) Bedkowski of Sudbury, Ontario (born in Poland) died peacefully in Toronto at 11:11 a.m. on the morning of November 7 at the age of 73. Beloved daughter of Piotr and Janina Siedlarski; sister of Danuta Kostrzewa (Lesczek), Janek Siedlarski (Urszula), Halina Kubat (Bogdan) and Marysia Przybylik (Szczepan); predeceased by husband Mieczyslaw Bedkowski; mother of Helen Bedkowski (Michael Haughton) and Mary Bedkowski (Tom Champaigne); and grandmother to David Bedkowski and Katharine, Mackenzie and Tommy Champaigne; aunt to many sons and daughters in Montreal and Poland.
Vicki moved to Canada as a young woman where, at a very young age, she overcame the countless challenges new Canadians face in a new found land. Not knowing the language, culture and community, she raised two daughters away from her parents and the family she left behind for a better life. She worked tirelessly to support her children and then her grandchildren; never passing an opportunity to lend a hand, offer words of wisdom, share some love, cook a meal and look for an opportunity to give someone a hand up. She loved to wander into the woods around Sudbury to pick blueberries in the summer and mushrooms in the fall; the fruits of her labours often travelling hundreds of kilometers as offerings to those she cared about. Vicki’s many shopping excursions brought her home with many gifts, sweet and otherwise, as she never missed an opportunity to tell someone that she was thinking of them. The biggest part of her life was spent loving, sharing and seeking joy with her family and friends. She modelled strength, courage, and an unstoppable desire to share in the wonder of life with those around her.
In 1993, Vicki was diagnosed with stomach cancer which she overcame very soon following its discovery. She came to understand during her last illness that she was blessed to have these past twenty-six years; to watch her children raise families and to shower her grandchildren with love and many moments of joyful play. During this time, and above all, she taught us that the love of a grandmother is like no other. “Did I ever tell you that I love you? Did I ever tell you that I care? Did I ever tell you that I need you? Well darling, I’m telling you now.”
Her passionate and generous spirit will be missed by all those she touched in her travels. The family would like to thank all those who came into our lives to care for Vicki during her final few months; and to all those who formed a community around her in Toronto where she lived her final days. We cannot thank you enough for your love and support and for making Vicki feel like she was a member of a much bigger family; like a warm embrace.
Vicki loved flowers and the family welcomes their beauty at the funeral visitation; or masses to be celebrated in her memory at the church; or donations to the charity of your choice in her name.
Resting at the
Jackson and Barnard Funeral Home
233 Larch Street, Sudbury
(Friends may call 2-4pm and 6-8pm Friday
with Parish Prayers at 7:30pm Friday)
Funeral Mass
in
St. Casimir’s Church
210 Paris Street, Sudbury
Saturday November 16th, 2019
at 10am
Interment in the family plot
at the Civic Cemetery
For flowers, donations, or messages of condolence, www.lougheed.org.
Wladyslawa (Vicki) Bedkowski of Sudbury, Ontario (born in Poland) died peacefully in Toronto at 11:11 a.m. on the morning of November 7 at the age of 73. Beloved daughter of Piotr and Janina Siedlarski; sister of Danuta Kostrzewa (Lesczek), Janek Siedlarski (Urszula), Halina Kubat (Bogdan) and Marysia Przybylik (Szczepan); predeceased by husband Mieczyslaw Bedkowski; mother of Helen Bedkowski (Michael Haughton) and Mary Bedkowski (Tom Champaigne); and grandmother to David Bedkowski and Katharine, Mackenzie and Tommy Champaigne; aunt to many sons and daughters in Montreal and Poland.
Vicki moved to Canada as a young woman where, at a very young age, she overcame the countless challenges new Canadians face in a new found land. Not knowing the language, culture and community, she raised two daughters away from her parents and the family she left behind for a better life. She worked tirelessly to support her children and then her grandchildren; never passing an opportunity to lend a hand, offer words of wisdom, share some love, cook a meal and look for an opportunity to give someone a hand up. She loved to wander into the woods around Sudbury to pick blueberries in the summer and mushrooms in the fall; the fruits of her labours often travelling hundreds of kilometers as offerings to those she cared about. Vicki’s many shopping excursions brought her home with many gifts, sweet and otherwise, as she never missed an opportunity to tell someone that she was thinking of them. The biggest part of her life was spent loving, sharing and seeking joy with her family and friends. She modelled strength, courage, and an unstoppable desire to share in the wonder of life with those around her.
In 1993, Vicki was diagnosed with stomach cancer which she overcame very soon following its discovery. She came to understand during her last illness that she was blessed to have these past twenty-six years; to watch her children raise families and to shower her grandchildren with love and many moments of joyful play. During this time, and above all, she taught us that the love of a grandmother is like no other. “Did I ever tell you that I love you? Did I ever tell you that I care? Did I ever tell you that I need you? Well darling, I’m telling you now.”
Her passionate and generous spirit will be missed by all those she touched in her travels. The family would like to thank all those who came into our lives to care for Vicki during her final few months; and to all those who formed a community around her in Toronto where she lived her final days. We cannot thank you enough for your love and support and for making Vicki feel like she was a member of a much bigger family; like a warm embrace.
Vicki loved flowers and the family welcomes their beauty at the funeral visitation; or masses to be celebrated in her memory at the church; or donations to the charity of your choice in her name.
Resting at the
Jackson and Barnard Funeral Home
233 Larch Street, Sudbury
(Friends may call 2-4pm and 6-8pm Friday
with Parish Prayers at 7:30pm Friday)
Funeral Mass
in
St. Casimir’s Church
210 Paris Street, Sudbury
Saturday November 16th, 2019
at 10am
Interment in the family plot
at the Civic Cemetery
For flowers, donations, or messages of condolence, www.lougheed.org.