Ludwika Strama

Ludwika Strama (nee Janik), a beacon of Love and Faith, passed away peacefully on November 13, 2025, at the age of 88 in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Born on June 3, 1937, in the quaint village of Maruszyna, Poland, she was a woman whose life was a testament to the enduring power of kindness and the strength of the human spirit.
Ludwika's journey from her birthplace to the United States was marked by resilience and hope. She carried within her the warmth of her Polish heritage and a deep Catholic faith that guided her every step. Through her life, she embodied the words of Mother Teresa, "Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love." Ludwika did just that, touching the lives of all who knew her with her small acts of great love.
Ludwika shared her life with her beloved late husband, Wladyslaw Strama, whose companionship, devotion, and love guided and supported her throughout their many years together. Their marriage was a foundation built on faith, family, and a shared commitment to creating a loving home for their children.
She was the cherished matriarch of a large and loving family. Her daughter Helena (Waclaw) Galdyn, blessed her with grandchildren Steve (Urszula) Galdyn and their kids-Jakub and Victoria (Izak) MacNabb. Her legacy continued through Aneta Gallardo and her children-Claudia, Izabel, Camila, and Antonio. Marcin Galdyn also carried forward her values and traditions.
Zofia Raczka (Jan Strama), contributed to Ludwika's lineage with Malgorzata, mother to Julian, Magdalena, and Gabriella, as well as Andrzej, father to Krystian, Anjelika, and Adrian.
Bogumila (Jan) Hodorowicz, gave Ludwika the joy of Erick, Kathryn, mother to Ashton and Karim, Magdalena (Coy) Hines, and Kinga (Phil) Swistowicz. Joseph Strama, her beloved son, and his children-Natalia (Quinn), Michael, Joshua, Olivia, and Otylia-were a source of immense pride.
Katarzyna (Stanislaw) Kuruc, expanded the family tree with Barbara (Janusz) Szwajnos, and their children Alex, Mateusz, and Karolinka, Marcin (Chanel) Kuruc, and their children Ciena and Liam, Monika (Rafal) Blachut, and their children Dominic, Nicholas, and Conrad, and Agnes Kuruc.
Stanislaw Strama, her son, along with his children Nicholas, Matthew, and Emily, reflected Ludwika's nurturing love. Each family member was a unique thread in the beautiful tapestry of her life, woven together by her unwavering love and faith.
Ludwika's life was marked by an unshakable faith, a quiet strength, and an unending capacity for kindness. She was a woman who saw the face of GOD in every person she met and treated everyone with the compassion and dignity they deserved. Her life was a living sermon, a daily demonstration of her Catholic values, and an inspiration to all who were blessed to know her.
As we honor Ludwika Strama, we remember her not just for the life she lived, but for the love she gave so freely and the faith that was the cornerstone of her existence. She was a true embodiment of love and kindness, and her spirit will continue to guide and inspire us.
In the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:13, "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." Ludwika Strama's legacy is one of love-a love that knew no bounds and will echo through the generations. As we bid farewell to this extraordinary woman, we celebrate a life well-lived and a soul now at peace with the LORD she so dearly loved.
Ludwika Strama (z domu Janik), symbol Milosci i Wiary, odeszla spokojnie 13 listopada 2025 roku w wieku 88 lat w Oak Lawn w stanie Illinois. Urodzona 3 czerwca 1937 roku w urokliwej wiosce Maruszyna w Polsce, byla kobieta, której zycie bylo swiadectwem nieprzemijajacej mocy dobroci i sily ludzkiego ducha.
Podróz Ludwiki z miejsca urodzenia do Stanów Zjednoczonych naznaczona byla wytrwaloscia i nadzieja. Nosila w sobie cieplo polskiego dziedzictwa i gleboka wiare katolicka, która prowadzila ja na kazdym kroku. Przez cale zycie ucielesniala slowa Matki Teresy: „Nie wszyscy mozemy czynic wielkie rzeczy. Ale mozemy czynic male rzeczy z wielka miloscia". Ludwika wlasnie to czynila, dotykajac zycia wszystkich, którzy ja znali, swoimi malymi aktami wielkiej milosci.
Ludwika dzielila zycie ze swoim ukochanym, zmarlym mezem, Wladyslawem Strama, którego towarzystwo, oddanie i milosc prowadzily ja i wspieraly przez wiele wspólnych lat. Ich malzenstwo bylo fundamentem zbudowanym na wierze, rodzinie i wspólnym zaangazowaniu w tworzenie kochajacego domu dla dzieci.
Byla ukochana matriarcha duzej i kochajacej sie rodziny. Jej córka Helena (Waclaw) Galdyn obdarowala ja wnukami Steve'em (Urszula) Galdyn i ich dziecmi – Jakubem i Victoria (Izakiem) MacNabb. Jej dziedzictwo kontynuowala Aneta Gallardo i jej dziecmi – Claudia, Izabela, Camila i Antoniem. Marcin Galdyn równiez kontynuowal jej wartosci i tradycje.
Zofia Raczka (Jan Strama) przyczynila sie do rozwoju rodu Ludwiki wraz z Malgorzata, matka Juliana, Magdaleny i Gabrielli, a takze Andrzejem, ojcem Krystiana, Anjeliki i Adriana.
Bogumila (Jan) Hodorowicz obdarowala Ludwike radoscia bycia matka Ericka, Kathryn, matki Ashtona i Karima, Magdaleny (Coy) Hines i Kingi (Phil) Swistowicz.
Joseph Strama, jej ukochany syn, i jego dzieci – Natalia (Quinn), Michael, Joshua, Olivia i Otylia – byli zródlem ogromnej dumy.
Katarzyna (Stanislaw) Kuruc powiekszyla drzewo genealogiczne o Barbare (Janusza) Szwajnos i ich dzieci: Alexa, Mateusza i Karolinke, Marcina (Chanel) Kuruca i ich dzieci: Ciene i Liama, Monike (Rafala) Blachut i ich dzieci: Dominica, Nicholasa i Conrada oraz Agnes Kuruc.
Jej syn Stanislaw Strama, wraz z dziecmi: Nicholasem, Matthewem i Emily, odzwierciedlal troskliwa milosc Ludwiki. Kazdy czlonek rodziny byl wyjatkowa nicia w pieknym gobelinie jej zycia, splecionym jej niezachwiana miloscia i wiara.
Zycie Ludwiki naznaczone bylo niezachwiana wiara, cicha sila i niewyczerpana zdolnoscia do zyczliwosci. Byla kobieta, która dostrzegala oblicze BOGA w kazdym napotkanym czlowieku i traktowala kazdego z naleznym mu wspólczuciem i godnoscia. Jej zycie bylo zywym kazaniem, codziennym swiadectwem jej katolickich wartosci i inspiracja dla wszystkich, którzy mieli szczescie ja poznac.
Oddajac hold Ludwice Stramie, wspominamy ja nie tylko za zycie, jakie prowadzila, ale za milosc, która tak hojnie dawala, i wiare, która byla kamieniem wegielnym jej istnienia. Byla prawdziwym ucielesnieniem milosci i zyczliwosci, a jej duch bedzie nas nadal prowadzil i inspirowal.
Jak powiedzial apostol Pawel w 1 Liscie do Koryntian 13,13: „Teraz wiec trwaja te trzy: wiara, nadzieja, milosc. Z nich zas najwieksza jest milosc". Dziedzictwo Ludwiki Stramy to milosc – milosc, która nie znala granic i bedzie rozbrzmiewac echem przez pokolenia. Zegnajac te niezwykla kobiete, swietujemy dobrze przezyte zycie i dusze, która zaznala pokoju z PANEM, którego tak bardzo kochala.
Visitation, Sunday, November 16, 2025, 3:00PM to 7:00PM at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, justice, Illinois.
Funeral, Monday, November 17, 2025, 8:30AM Prayers and Procession to begin from the funeral home to Saint Albert the Great Church, 8029 S. Central Avenue, Burbank, Illinois for 9:30AM Mass.
Interment, Resurrection Cemetery, Justice, Illinois. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ludwika, please visit our floral store.