Maria K Brodowicz, 86, of Wethersfield, wife of the late Stanislaw Brodowicz,passed away October 13, 2018 in Hartford Hospital, with her family at her side. She was born in the Wolyn province of eastern Poland At the beginning of WWII following the invasion of Poland by Germany in the west, at age 7, Maria with her mother and younger brother and sister , were taken to prison camps in Siberia by the invading Russian army in the east.. From Siberia, Maria, her mother and her sister made their way to refugee camps in Iran. From Iran, they went to Kenya Africa, where they lived in Polish refugee settlement camp until 1946. That year they reunited with her father, a Polish Army officer and went to London. They emigrated from England to America in 1954 where Maria reunited with her older brother and sister. Maria settled in Hartford Connecticut where she met and married Stanislaw Brodowicz. Maria spent many years with the Hartford Hilton. She was very active in the Polish American community for which she received numerous awards, including in 2017 the Cavalier Cross Order of Merit Republic of Poland from the president of Poland and was named Immigrant of the Year 2017 by the Secretary of State at the State Capitol. She was an active member of the Polish Cultural Club of Greater Hartford, contributing her knowledge of traditions and history as well as her considerable skills in the folk arts. She had been active in many PolAm organizations, including the Polish American Congress. Most special and important to her was her work with the Polish Scouting Organization (ZHP), she was a founding member of the scouts in Hartford and president of the Friends of Polish Scouts (KPH) for thirteen years. As a scout herself , she achieved the highest rank, and as a leader, was devoted to mentoring the young women in her care. She was a devout member of SS Cyril & Methodius Church and a member of the Rosary Society. Maria’s family was the greatest joy in her life and her grandchildren the lights in her life. She leaves her daughter Ursula Brodowicz of Newington,her son Jack Brodowicz and his wife Kasia of Wethersfield, her sister Wanda Bitner of PA and her brother Ryszard Krzysztofiak of Chicago IL. Maria also leaves her grandchildren Thomas and Milena, her nieces and nephew and their families as well as friends and relatives in Poland. Besides her husband and parents, Maria was predeased by her daughter Eva B Wickwire, her brother Antoni Krzysztofiak (in Siberia), her sister Jadwiga Mrotek, her niece Ewa Alicja Mrotek and her brother-in-law Ryszard Mrotek.
Friends may call on Wednesday October 17, 2018 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the Farley -Sullivan Funeral Home, 34 Beaver Rd. Wethersfield. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Maria’s life will be held on Thursday October 18, 2018 at 10:00 AM in SS Cyril & Methodius Church, 63 Popieluszlo Court, Hartford. All are asked to go directly to the church. Burial will follow in Mount St Benedict Cemetary, 1 Cottage Grove RD., Bloomfield. Memorial donations may be made to Polish Studies Program, CCSU, 1615 Stanley St.,New Britain 06053, Polish Scouting Organization Inc. (ZHP), 321 Woodhaven Rd. Glastonbury, 06033, Hartford Polish Saturday School , PO Box 26572, Hartford 06126, or the Eva Brodowicz Wickwire Volunteer Scholarship, Main Street Foundation, 120 Halcyon Dr., Box 2702, Bristol 06011, or donor’s choice.