Halina Jadwiga HEBDA

HEBDA, Halina Jadwiga Of Oak Bay passed away peacefully January 25, 2013. Our loving mother, grandmother and friend led a remarkable life. Born in the little town of Szczebrzeszyn, Poland on August 24, 1926, she and her mother Lucyna Kowalik followed her father Mikolaj Kowalik to Hamilton Canada in 1929. She grew up in the Polish community in sight of the great steel mills. From an early age she learned the traditions, dances and songs of her homeland. A dashing Polish airman, Joseph Hebda, newly arrived from war-torn Europe swept her off her feet and they were married in Hamilton in 1949. In short order, three children arrived: Richard (Elaine) - Victoria, Andrew (Gwyneth) - Nova Scotia and Lucy Anne (Claude) - Gabriola Island. Our family lived on a small fruit farm near Winona, Ontario for 17 years. A challenge to this city girl, she lovingly and wisely nurtured her children while working as school secretary and serving as President of Home and School. Although she never had the chance to be a teacher herself, she loved being with children, always with candies in her drawer and a tissue to comfort the young ones. These were hard but happy years as jobs came and went for Joseph, yet she kept our family thriving. She and Joseph published tirelessly for 20 years the community Polish magazine Dziedzictwo, keeping Polish culture and freedom alive abroad during the dark times. She and the family moved to West Hamilton as the children entered university, continuing to work in city schools. In 1973 the family moved to Lucerne Quebec when Joseph was appointed to Veterans Affairs in Ottawa. Those were wonderful years for her, now more at ease in a beautiful home. Halina and Joseph traveled widely across Canada, sometimes in an old VW van "like hippies or gypsies" they would quip. She also returned to her beloved Poland and saw her family again. After Joseph died suddenly in 1978, Halina returned to work in the schools in Hamilton, comforting the young and secretly passing out special candies. The west coast called in 1987 and she moved to join her son Richard, his wife Elaine and to be Babcia for Nicholas and Christopher. She spent many months a year in Nova Scotia loving her other grandson Meidrym (Andrew and Gwyneth). In Victoria she joined the volunteer docents at the Royal BC Museum leading school groups in the galleries and interpreting major exhibits. She loved telling the kids and visitors about the remarkable beauty of BC, especially about the First Nations for whom she held a special place in her heart. She took the trip of a lifetime to Haida Gwaii to help with school programs there. Halina sang with the local Polish choir at the White Eagle Hall, cultural festivals and in care homes, spreading the joy and healing powers of music. Halina Hebda represents how Canada has nurtured those who have come to her shores looking for a new future. She represents the foundation and strength of our caring and diverse land, a land of opportunity, respect, tolerance and equality. Halina will be missed by her good friends and family. We thank you Mami and Babcia for your twinkling eyes and smile, for years of love and devotion, for supporting us daily, for cooking traditional Polish food, for decades of special Christmas Eve dinners in your home. We are who we are because of your limitless support and deep love. Mamusiu spoczywaj w pokoju. There will be a Memorial Event for Halina Hebda on Saturday February 2, 2 pm, at First Memorial, 4725 Falaise Dr., Royal Oak. She will be interred beside her beloved husband in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Hamilton Ontario. In lieu of flowers donations to the Royal BC Museum or The Land Conservancy of BC would be greatly appreciated.