Anna K. Rogalski

Anna Krystyna Rogalski was born on December 22, 1951, in the small town of Jaroslaw,

Poland. She was the youngest child in her family, with two brothers and a sister. Her

parents were Josefa Krol and Miroslaw Switalski, the latter working as a director in the

ceramics industry.

Anna spent her early years in Poland, where she worked as a bookkeeper during the

Soviet Union era. Her life took a new direction when she fell in love with Michael

Rogalski, a family friend and World War II veteran who had immigrated to America after

the war but often returned to Poland to visit loved ones. In 1987, Anna came to America

to marry Michael. The following year, they welcomed their son, also named Michael.

Anna made her home in Yucaipa, California, dedicating herself as a loving mother and

wife. She later became a devoted caregiver for her husband until his passing in 2015.

Anna learned English primarily by watching home improvement television shows, and

she enthusiastically applied her new skills to various projects around her house. She

was meticulous in her housekeeping, the kind of person who even cleaned the inside of

trash cans. Anna had a deep affection for pets, cherishing many throughout her life, with

her most recent companions being Charlie and Zoey. She also found joy in tending to

her beautiful garden, chatting for hours over the phone with her sister and closest friend,

Barbara, who remained in Poland, and stuffing her son, Michael, with lots of homemade

Polish food. One could never leave her home hungry.

Throughout her life, Anna confronted several battles with cancer. She was diagnosed

with breast cancer in 2010, and later with lung and stomach cancer in 2019. She

underwent various cancer treatments over the years, but most importantly, LIVED her

life despite illness. In her final days in 2025, she endured significant suffering, more

than she anticipated. Yet, she expressed in one of her last statements that she found

comfort in the care of her loved ones and wanted others to know there is safety in

accepting support from those around you.

Anna is survived by her brother Ryszard, her sister Barbara, her son Michael, and her

beloved chihuahua, Zoey. She will be remembered for her caring spirit, resilience, and

the love she gave to her family, friends, and pets.