Obituary of Emilia Balinski

BALINSKI, Emilia Julia With her eyes focused on her Lord, her soul led by the Blessed Virgin Mary, and her family by her side, Emilia Julia (nee Silkovna) Balinski passed on Sunday, May 20, 2012 in St. Catharines, at age 90 after a lengthy illness. Emilia joins her beloved husband Bronislaw who met the Lord in October 2006. Mama will be sadly missed by her children and their spouses, Elizabeth and David Fisk (Guelph), Ashis and Christine Balinski (Victoria, BC) and John and Ingrid Balinski (Niagara Falls). Babcia was deeply loved by her grandchildren Derek (Carla) Fisk (Dubai, UAE), Graham Fisk and Gavin Fisk both from Guelph and her new great granddaughter and namesake, Emilia Fisk. Emilia Julia was born in Lukawiec, Poland in 1922, and is predeceased by her sisters Genowefa and Hela and survived by her sister Ludwiga in Poland. Emilia was removed from her family in 1942 and spent the balance of the 2nd World War in Germany. Upon immigrating to Canada in the late 1940's, Emilia travelled across Canada settling in Vancouver where she met her husband, marrying him in 1951. She and Bronislaw moved to St. Catharines in 1953 with the support of the pastor and parishioners of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. Emilia's proudest achievement was her family. She nurtured everyone with devotion and dedication and will always be remembered for her festive celebrations of special occasions. Emilia loved her Lord and the Blessed Virgin Mary and was an active member of the Holy Rosary Society at her church for many decades. Visitation with family and friends will be on Wednesday May 23rd from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with Holy Rosary at 7:30 p.m. at GEORGE DARTE FUNERAL CHAPEL, 585 Carlton St, St. Catharines. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 5 Oblate St., St. Catharines on Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. Rite of Committal will follow at Victoria Lawn Cemetery. Donations to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, in lieu of flowers are graciously accepted. Special thanks to the entire staff, management and fellow residents at The Royal Henley Retirement Residence for making the last year of Emilia's life joyful. Emilia will live on in our hearts forever.