Founder and President for 38 years of The Polish Arts and Culture Foundation in San Francisco, recipient of numerous medals and commendations from Poland and the American government for her untiring promotion of Poland’s rich heritage. Her fervent patriotiotism, propelled by what she had endured in WW2,lived long enough to finally see Poland’s freedom from oppression. Changing the lives of thousands, Pani Wanda as she was affectionately called, will be missed by everyone who knew her. Her fascinating life account can be found on Wikipedia. A longtime resident of Berkeley and Oakland, Wanda was active in the civic and cultural life of the Bay Area.

On Tuesday, March 2, 2010 Pani Wanda finally succumbed, in Krakow, Poland, to the ravages of old age and diabetes. While vacationing in Poland in May 2002 she suffered a series of strokes, which prevented her return to San Francisco. She is survived by her grieving daughter Caria, loving grandchildren Remy, Dariana and Sebastian Szykier and great-granddaughters Hennessy and Lillian. She was predeceased by Caria’s daughter Andria and son Damien.

There will be a Holy Mass and Celebration of Life at 2:15pm on March 20th at St. Ignatius Church (Fulton and Stanyan) in San Francisco. Memorial Masses will be celebrated in Warsaw and Krakow, Poland in mid-April.

In lieu of flowers, tax-deductible donations may be sent to:

The Polish Arts and Culture Foundation, 4077 Waterhouse Road, Oakland, CA 94602