Obituary of Roman BARANOWSKI

ROMAN W. BARANOWSKI Roman Wawrzyniec Baranowski was born on August 9, 1926 in Pelplin, Poland. His parents were Waclaw Baranowski born in Boze Marcisze, District of Ciechanow, Poland and Marta (n�e Cierzan) of Wdzydze, Kartuzy District, Poland. Roman was pre-deceased by his sister Zofia, his brothers Leon and Ludwik and his first wife Brenda (n�e Overfield). Roman was a schoolboy when Poland was invaded at the beginning of the Second World War. He was sent to a labour farm in southern Germany, from where he managed to escape into France, hiding with a Polish family outside Paris. He contacted the French Resistance and was smuggled to England to join the Polish Free Forces. He was trained in Morse Code and became a Tank Commander at age 18. He also trained at Oxford University as an English Language Instructor and Translator for the Polish Forces in England. At a Spa dance in Scarborough, Yorkshire, Roman met Edith Brenda Overfield. They were married on April 12, 1950 at St. Hilda's Catholic Church in Whitby. Their first child, Krystyna, arrived in 1951. Roman was working as a Book-keeper/Accountant for the National Service Hostels Corporation but in a bid for greater opportunity, Roman decided to immigrate to Canada. He left Southampton, England and sailed for Halifax on the 11th of April, 1953. He was joined in Winnipeg by Brenda and Krystyna in August, 1953. Their son Andrjez was born in Winnipeg in 1955, as was their son Stefan Mark, in 1965. In Winnipeg, Roman initially held two jobs, at Safeway and at Western Overseas Travel Agency. He bought shares in the travel company and eventually became sole owner. In 1980, he moved from his Main Street location to his newly built office on Selkirk Avenue. Roman loved good food, good company and Strauss Waltzes. Any man lucky enough to meet him will remember his crushing handshake and ready smile. He was an international traveller, at ease in any language and culture, using his natural wit and charm to great advantage. Roman was gifted with a wonderful ability to master languages and up to the present, continued to translate documents in over 27 languages for the federal and provincial governments. During the Cold War, he was consulted by both the Canadian and Eastern European Governments for his expertise in facilitating travel and communication between the Iron Curtain Countries (in particular, Poland) and the West. He also held the appointments of Notary Public and Commissioner of Oaths up until his death. A pillar of the Polish community, Roman helped many families immigrate and adapt to life in Canada. He was a member of the Polish Combatants Club 13, and sat for many years on the executive board of the Holy Spirit Credit Union. Roman served as the Mayor of the Polish Pavilion of Turin during the early days of Folklorama. He also organized and led many charters from Winnipeg to Poland, including those for the Sokol Dance and Choir Ensemble. He ran the "Parcels to Poland" service for many years and was affectionately known as the "Polish Santa Claus". A Winnipeg Free Press article by Barbara Huck cites the many international firms he dealt with, in particular Pekao. Roman handled everything from medicine to automobiles, ensuring door-to-door delivery for families in Poland because "I've always wanted to help people". Roman is survived by his daughter, Krystyna Aleksandra (Ross) and granddaughter Brittany, by his son Andrzej (Gisele) and their son Mark and daughter Anna (David Brackman) and great-granddaughter Sydney; and by his son Stefan (Karen), granddaughter Stefanie and grandsons, Kyle and Devon. Roman remarried Aleksandra (n�e Michanek) in the 1990s. He was greatly loved by his second family and wife Aleksandra, stepson Tomasz Ciochon, stepdaughter Edyta (Bruce) Ciochon, stepdaughter Agnieszka (Tim) Ciochon, and their children, Thomas and Aleksandra Ciochon-Newton. The family wishes to thank the staff of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at St. Boniface Hospital for their compassion and kindness. Prayers will be held on Tuesday, September 16 at 9:00 p.m. at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main Street. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, September 17 at 11:00 a.m. with Visitation beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Ghost Roman Catholic Church, 341 Selkirk Avenue with an Oblate Father as Celebrant. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Roman's memory be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba. CROPO FUNERAL CHAPEL 586-8044