My maternal grandmother KAROLINA KUŁAK (from my mother side)
My grandmother KAROLINA
She was born on 7 October in 1982 and passed
away on 24 January in 1969 (survived 87
years).
I really good remember my grandmother
Karolina, because she was a nice, tiny and
cheerful old lady. She was very fond of
children, prepared us delicious cakes and liked
to sing lullabies. She passed away when I was
11 years old.
My maternal grandfather JÓZEF KUŁAK (from my mother side)
My grandfather JOSEPH
He was born on 22 May in 1980 and passed
away on 17 August in 1960 (survived 80 years).
I didn’t almost remember my grandfather
Joseph. From family stories I know that he
was a very good man, a good father and a
caring husband. He loved children and helped
with grandchildren raising. He adored my
oldest sister Eva and she often says that her
grandfather liked horror stories about ghosts,
devils and monsters. My grandfather passed
away when I was only 2 years old.
My grandfather
Joseph was a soldier
in the Haller army …in
the picture he is on his
military uniform (on
the right side).
In the picture there are
my grandmother’s
brother John ( who
was a soldier too, my
grandmother sister
Wincentyna- she was
a teacher and two
children – they are my
mother’s sister Stanisława and her
brother Antoni – my
aunt Stasia and my
uncle Antoni were my
godparents.)
(This photo dates
from about 1915)
My paternal grandparents ( from my father side)
In this picture there are my grandmother
Anna ( the second from left) with her second
husband Joseph Kibała and with his family.
( This photo dates from 1936).
My grandmother ANNA BLUJ
(31 January 1879 – 8 March 1965).
She survived 86 years.
My grandfather JÓZEF BLUJ
(24 February 1876 – 20 January 1930)
He survived only 54 years.
I good remember my grandmother
Anna. She was a very slender and tall
woman looked very grimly but in the
fact, she was a very nice person.
When I was born in 1958 my family and
I lived in a newly built house in the
neighborhood of our grandmother Anna.
She was a first person who took care of
me while my parents worked. I still
remember how she sang the song for me,
and I remember the taste and smell of
grated apples which she prepared for
me.
She passed away when I was 7 years
old.
I did not know anything about my
grandfather because he died when my
dad was only 11 years old. We haven’t
any pictures and we know very little
about him except that he and his wife
Anna ( our grandmother) were in the USA
for some time but they returned to
Poland before 1914. (maybe 1910-1914)
Only one of their son was born in the
USA but next children ( my dad and his
sister) were born in Poland.
It seems to be the reason for their return
to Poland was another death of newborn
their babies in an America… so I heard
during family stories.
MY PARENTS
MARIA BLUJ - (maiden name KUŁAK) and WŁADYSŁAW BLUJ
MY MOTHER.
She was born on 22 January in 1921 and passed away
on 17 August in 2006 (survived 85 years).
My mother was a biology teacher.
She was a very hardworking, friendly, helpful and
warm woman. She was very fond of children- she
had six children and all of us well mannered and
educated.
She created a warm house where we are still
coming back with great pleasure.
MY FATHER
He was born on 18 September in 1919 and
passed away on 4 November in 1977
(survived only 56 years alike his father).
My dad was a very active social person.
After the war he was head of the local
cooperative trade and also had his own
farm At the house he was a strict and
consistent father. I remember how he
taught me multiplication tables and
accounts ... he was really good at it.
about 1938
My mother at school after the war- 1946
MY PARENTS IN LAW- Marianna and Władysław KAŁUŻA.
60th Wedding Anniversary
2012
MY AUNTS and UNCLES
Three loving sisters like three sisters " Czechowa"- Stasia, Ola i Marysia.
photo of the post-war 1947
In the photo : On the bank of the river SAN the whole
family Kułak. From left- Ola, Antoni, Stasia, Marysia
and John.
1936
Aunt Stasia was born on 11 October 1907.
She was a Polish language teacher.
She graduated the University of Lvov before the Second
World War. She passed away on 6 September in 1990.
Aunt Ola was born on 24 February 1917.
She was a Polish language teacher two. She was
married with uncle Andrew. They had one daughter
Renata. She passed away on 30 July in 2009.
Uncle Antoni was born on 24 January in 1910. He
was a professional soldier of army AK. He survived the
hard times in post-war Poland-persecution, hiding up
and change of name( Władysław Nachajowski).
He was married with aunt Frania. They had four
daughters. He passed away on 6 January in 1985.
Antoni (about 1930)
I can remember all the Christmas seasons which
took place in our house ... there were always a lot
of us and it was the most enjoyable time of family
gatherings.
Sometimes you have to accept the fact that certain things will never go back to how they
used to be.
Uncle JOHN. He is 90 years old and he
is the youngest brother of my mother.
( He was born on 21 January in 1923)
He lives alone in Temeszów. He never been married and he
is an old bachelor. He spends all time at home because he
has problems with his legs and with walking.
He reads a lot, he has a great memory and loves when
somebody visit him and listen to him, listen to his story
about family's adventures and about the good old days.
I like it I like these stories!
MY SISTERS and BROTHERS.
I have got 2 brothers, 3 sisters, 3 sisters in law and 2 brothers in law.
The oldest one is Zygmunt. The youngest one is Adam.
The oldest sister is Eva, next twins Ela and Ania and the youngest one is I.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Photo1. A little Zygmunt with a horse.
Photo 2. Four sisters - in the foreground is me.
Photo 3. Four sisters in the rye- in the foreground is me.
My brother Zygmunt is
63 years old.
He is married with
Danuta.
They live in Warsaw
and both of them are
engineers.
They have got
2 sons, 2 daughters,
1 daughter in law,
1 son in law
2 grandsons and
3 granddaughters.
Photo 4. A little Adam on a motorcycle.
My elder sister Eva is
currently 60 years old
and she lives in
Siemianowice in
Silesia. She is alone and
very often visits us.
She has been helpful
now and earlier when
my children were little.
My sisters twins… like
as two peas.
Ania is alone and she
lives in Temeszow at
our family house.
She works in the bank
and works on the farm.
My sister Ela .
She is married with
Zenon. They live in
Sanok at their own
house.
They have got 3 sons, 2
daughters in law and 3
grandsons. Now they
are waiting for two
new grandchildren.
My husband and I.
We have got one sonSimon and one
daughter- Kate.
My youngest brother
Adam.
He is married with
Lucyna.
They have got 2 daughter,
1 son , 1 son in law and 1
granddaughter.
They live in Witryłów
near Temeszow at his
own little beautiful
cottage. My brother is
an electrician and he can
do many things – he is a
handyman.
My husband’s brother
Roman.
Wacek has got only one
brother.
Roman is married with
Alfreda and now they
have lived in Chicago
for twelve years.
They have 2 daughters,
2 sons in law and 3
granddaughters.
My nephews, nieces and their children.
Michał- Zygmunt’s son
with his wife Ania.
Michał is a physicist and
Ania is an economist.
They live in France near
Paris.
They have got one
daughter and one son.
Magda is Zygmunt’s
Zuzia
Jasio
daughter and my
goddaughter.
Magda is married with
Maciej.
Maciej is a computer
scientist and now he
works at the Ministry of
Internal Affairs.
Mateusz
Marta
Marysia
Jakub – Zygmunt’s
son. He is a Dominican
friar but he is rather a
scientist - now he is
studying biblical in Rome.
Agata- Zygmunt’s
daughter.
Agata graduated from
Polish literature at
Warsaw University.
Dominik is Ela’s son.
He is married with
Shannon. They live in
Joliet in the USA.
They have 2 sons and
waiting for a new one
now.
Domink is only the one
who went my way and
ended Mathematics at the
University in Katowice.
Damian
Derek
They are waiting for a new one
(son or daughter???)
Grzegorz is Ela's son.
He is married with
Justyna. They kived in
Sanok. They have one son
and they are waiting for a
new one
Patryk
?
they are waiting for a daughter
Karol is Ela's son.
He is 17 years old.
? I don't have even one of his photo - I do
not know how it is possible
Ania is Adam's
daughter. She is
married with Piotr.
They have one daughter.
Maja
Karolina is Adam's
daughter.
She graduated his high
school and started study
on University in Lublin.
Maciej
is Adam's
son. He is 19 years old.
? I don't have even one of his photo - I do
not know how it is possible
Bożena is Roman's
daughter. She is
married with Wojtek.
They live in Chicago.
Justyna is Roman's
daughter. She is
married with Paweł.
They have lived in
Chicago since 2004.
They have 3 daughters.
Karolina and Isabella
Simon our son.
Kate our daughter.
Karolina, Izabella and Amelia
Beautiful sky over the family's village TEMESZOW.
Wszyscy jesteśmy zanurzeni w rzece przepływającego czasu, niosącej nas coraz dalej
od źródeł ku nieznanej przyszłości. Kto się nie obejrzy za siebie, kto się nie zastanowi, skąd płynie
ta rzeka, nie pozna jej głębin i mielizn, nie będzie wiedział, dokąd sam chce dopłynąć…
Żyjemy w teraźniejszości, ale bez pamięci, skąd przyszliśmy, bez wiedzy o przeszłości będziemy
jak balonik, który zerwał się ze sznurka i dryfuje na wietrze. Pamięć to nie tylko fakty.
To dotyk czyjejś ręki, zapamiętane słowa, to pozostawione stare fotografie, to zasłyszana relacja
o ważnych wydarzeniach, które przyniósł los.
Przeszłość jest wciąż do odkrycia, a jeśli ktoś skazuje to, co minione, na niepamięć, sam się
okrada. Gdyby wyparowała z nas pamięć, opowieść o naszym życiu byłaby pusta i bezbarwna,
bo jeśli nawet czasem pamięć jest przekleństwem, to niepamięć jest zdradą. Kto wyrzeka się
pamięci o swoich źródłach, ten tym samym wyrzeka się jedynego bogactwa, które dostajemy
od życia tylko raz – i to za darmo.
[Andrzej Mularczyk].