Obituary of Olga Koszucki

Koszucki, Olga Peacefully at the Linhaven Home for the Aged in St. Catharines on Friday April 25, 2014.In her 84th year, Olga Koszucki (nee Kovelo), Beloved wife of the late Tadeusz Koszucki. Loving mother of George Koszucki and his wife Jacqueline. Loved grandmother of Roman. Olga was born in 1930 and grew up in Paris during the war. Both of her parents died early in her life and she was an only child. After the war, she met Ted, a "dashing" Pole who was part of the post war turmoil. He had demobilized in England after the war and if he would have had 50 pounds, he would have married an Aussie and I would have had an accent. As luck would have it, he didn't have the money, so off to France he went. Then his luck multiplied many times over when his best friend, a bit of a Casanova, double booked himself on dates with two women. And that is how Olga met Ted. They married in 1951 and toured France on a 125 cc motorcycle. They both had jobs in Paris, but with the difficult housing situation after the war, they decided to move to Montreal, Quebec, to make a better life for them. They minded a convenience store where Olga learned that you could actually deep fry a potato and that "For Sale" did not mean "really dirty". George, their only child, was born in 1961. Tired of the cold winters in Montreal, they moved to St. Catharines and found a cute little home in the old Glenridge area in 1964. Ted worked at the paper mill in Thorold, while Olga was the quintessential "stay at home" mom. She ran the household and did her best to raise a good son. I didn't make it easy. Her days were filled with feeding two men, tending a garden, making wine from scratch and enjoying the company of other Polish émigrés and our neighbours. Then, George went off to university and finally the Maritimes, which Olga and Ted visited 30 times. Each visit was highlighted by fresh lobster and scallop dinners washed down by plenty of wine. The lobsters were chosen by Ted at the lobster pound in Hall's Harbour and enjoyed by all on the beach or on the back deck in the backyard we all loved. In between the 30 visits to the Maritimes, they managed to traverse Canada from end to end, and also visit Hawaii, France, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia. Having completed their "bucket list", they settled down to a comfortable life in the Niagara region taking local trips and spending time with friends including Teresa and Sue, to name a few. Ted took ill and passed on and Olga lasted for many more years than us or even her thought possible. Her final years in the care of the great people at CCAC, the Loyalist and finally Linhaven, not to mention her friends and neighbours, were as comfortable as they could be. Thank you to all who shared in her life. Your companionship was enjoyed and your deeds appreciated more than you could ever know. Finally, they are together again!! Friends may call at the Patrick J. Darte Funeral Chapel, 39 Court St., St. Catharines (905-685-6584) on Monday, April 28, 2014 from 7 to 9pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Julia Catholic Church, 251 Glenridge Ave., St. Catharines (905-684-5603) on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at 11am. Rite of committal to follow at Victoria Lawn Cemetery.