BOSCAWEN - Janina Pietlicki, formerly of Laconia, NH, died Thursday, January 12, 2017, at Merrimack County Nursing Home in Boscawen, NH.
A Polish immigrant born near Pinsk (now part of Belarus), the daughter of the late Waclaw and Helena (Mielnik) Lysiuk, you will find no American who was more proud of her country. Janina lived a remarkable life. She and her family survived being torn from their home and sent to Siberia by the Russians at the beginning of World War II. During the war the family was shipped by train, truck, boat and camel through the Middle East and into Central Africa where they came under British protection for the duration of the war. It was here that Janina finished her formal education while experiencing the wonders of life in Africa.
Expatriated to England after the war Janina married and gave birth to her first child, Richard. Soon after she followed her parents to Brooklyn, NY, where she gave birth to her second child, Basia. She then moved to New Hampshire where she gave birth to her third child, John. While living in Manchester, and then in Laconia, she found a life of family, friends and fulfillment.
Many will remember Janina from her days working in the school lunch program, particularly at Pleasant Street School in Laconia, NH, where she was always ready with her easy smile and mild manner (not to mention an extra helping for those children she felt were "too skinny!"). She was further employed by several area firms, was active in community service organizations including the Red Cross, St. Joseph's Church, and the Emblem Club, where she was a member and president. In retirement she worked and volunteered at the Laconia Police Department and Lakes Region General Hospital until age and health forced her into the care of her children, and eventually the nursing home. Nursing home staff will fondly remember her good nature, penchant for singing, and her never-ending requests for a cup of coffee!
Janina's smile and kindness, which became her trademark in life, will forever be remembered by those who had the good fortune to meet or know her. She is survived by her children: Richard Pietlicki of Idaho, Basia Pietlicki of Henniker, NH, and John Pietlicki of Barrington, NH; ten grandchildren; several great grandchildren; and her sister, Maria Poloniewicz of Belmont, NC. In addition to her parents and two brothers, she was predeceased by her husband, Joseph Pietlicki, in 1970.
There will be no calling hours.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph Church, 30 Church Street, Laconia, NH. A private burial will be held at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Laconia.
For those who wish, and in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or go to http://www.alz.org.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements