Emilia Zdeb

Emilia Zdeb, 103 St. Cloud, Florida. She was born April 4th 1920 in Poland. She died on January 11th, 2023 in St. Cloud, Florida. She spent her childhood and and days of youth in Eastern borderlands, 60 km south of Lwowa in Szybalin. Her parents Szymon and Anna had six children, Franciszek, Emilia, Tekla, Maria, Michal, and Stanislaw. On November 15, 1939, in Brzezinach, being 19 years old, she married Albert Zdeb. During the war, she gave birth to a girl named Elzbieta, and a boy named Boleslaw. Difficult times of escape and reparations in the Eastern Borderlands (Ukraine), due to the effort to get back the land of southern Poland. A train transport, two small children, and little cattle were the only thing that could be brought. At this time she was expecting a third time, but her husband Stanislaw unfortunately died of Typhus. Her father stayed in Shybalyn, hoping the family would return home, unfortunately he was murdered. Her new home with 12 hectares was located near the new village next to Lubrzy, found near the river. After a few years, Emilia, her mother, and her children, decided to drive out to her aunt in Glubczyce, where they lived until 1972. Life went on, the war ended, the children finished school. Since childhood, her daughter Elzbieta carried a spirit of helping those in need, learning, and selflessness. She knew that if she became a Nun she could give herself to God, and the people, that’s why she joined the congregation of nuns in Notre Dame. When her sons started forming families, she decided to come to the United States of America to see her brother Francis. He came to the states as a Polish veteran of war She lived in the United States for about 30 years, permanently in New Jersey. In 1990, both sons and their families, got residencies in the United States, and moved to Newark New Jersey. Meanwhile, her daughter Elzbieta joined her in 1995 so she could help her mother, and realize her calling of serving God and the needy. After the premature death of her nephew Zbyszek, and his wife Heidi, she went to St. Cloud, Florida, to help her brother. Soon after on November 5th, 2005, Franciszek died. She ended up moving to St. Cloud because she loved it there. She had a beautiful elderly as she’d always mentioned. She lived by a beautiful lake, and had many friends in the Senior club of St. Cloud. From time to time, she’d be visited by her grandchildren. She was strong, optimistic, and dedicated to her family. Faith and positive thinking gave her the strength she needed to take all that God would give her, all her life. She will always be remembered by her family and friends. When she turned 100, her daughter Elzbieta flew out from New Jersey to come stay with her, so she had great care, company, and all her last needs met. She was not lonely when God called her to join him in the eternal rest of his arms. May she rest in eternal peace!

Emilia Zdeb

April 4, 1920 - January 11, 2023