Frederika (Junia) Rotter prefaced her reading of Karina’s letter with these remarks
First of all, I just want to join in the heartfelt memories. She was my “other mother” also, and I have the same fond memories as my other cousins of lunches, and “come here and do this” – I mean, she told me what to do and when Auntie Celina said something, you had to obey!
When Auntie Celina was making chicken soup, I had to go up and have it, because she knew that was my favourite meal, and she would always tell my mother or me what she was having for dinner, so if I liked it better than what my mother was making, I’d go upstairs and have dinner with everybody.
I don’t want to reiterate the story, but it is the last of my parents to go as well.
I received an email from Karina this morning. Karina was terribly upset not to be able to make it to the funeral, and she sent a few words:
Dear Family,
I am so sorry I am not there with all of you. I wanted to be with you and say a few words about Ciocia Celina because she played such an important role in my life. But due to a number of unfortunate circumstances I was not able to board a plane early this morning to join you there.
When my parents my sister Dzidzia and I emigrated from Poland and we arrived in Montreal in October 1967, Ciocia Celina welcomed me into her home and into her heart. She showered me with love and tenderness and created a little private space for me to sleep in her home. And she also made sure that I was able to participate in all family meals for the next 7 months until I moved to New York City in May of 1968 where I joined my parents.
At the time of our arrival in Montreal, Ciocia Celina was newly widowed and she had three children to support and yet she did not hesitate to invite me in and extend her amazing hospitality and kindness, nurturing me even though she did not know me other than from photos my parents used to send. She sensed, however, that this was a very difficult time for me – I had been perfectly happy living my perfectly wonderful life in Poland. I had left behind all my friends, college and everything that was familiar until that moment. The transition adjusting to a life in a new continent with English as a new language and so many different customs was not easy for me and I was extremely unhappy. Ciocia Celina along with Ciocia Nacia, Wujek Zygmunt, Ciocia Maryla and Wujek Julek tried to make the transition as easy and comfortable as they could. They succeeded more than I could have hoped for and I will always be grateful to all of them as well as to my cousins for their instant acceptance, support, guidance and love at that very difficult time and beyond. I am so fortunate to have such loving family.
I just saw Ciocia Celina two weeks ago and I tried to speak Polish to her. I wanted to tell her how much I loved her, how much I appreciated her gentle soul and the love she gave me, but she did not seem to comprehend. Still, I hope somewhere, somehow she knew. I will think of her always.
Karina