Wanda Witort Kokurewicz December 23, 1929 – September 18, 2014

Amherst, Wanda Witort Kokurewicz died peacefully at the Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst after a long illness on September 18. She was 84 years old.

Wanda was born in Warsaw, Poland in Dec. 23, 1929. Wanda lived through World War II in Poland. She was most proud of her service in the Polish Underground Army and was a courier during the Warsaw Uprising in August – September of 1944. She escaped Poland to England where she was re-united with family and the Polish community there. In London she met and married the love of her life, Jerzy Kokurewicz. There they had their first child, Jerzy. Soon they immigrated to the United States and had their daughter Annette  Kokurewicz (Cycon.)

Wanda and Jerzy recived their bachelor and masters degrees and had successful careers as fine artists, exhibiting with Salvador Dali and throughout New York City and Connecticut. They also became public school art teachers. Wanda taught for over 25 years.

They moved to New Salem MA where they helped raise their two granddaughters with their daughter Annette and son-in-law Dean. They also continued a successful pottery business, Garnki Pottery. These were the happiest years of their lives.

Wanda is survived by her husband of 63 years, Jerzy, son Jerzy and his wife Amita Schmidt of Maui, HI, her daughter Annette Cycon and son-in-law Dean Cycon of Leverett, MA. The lights of her life were her two granddaughters, Sarah (23) and Aliya (20.)  She gave them constant love and introduced them to the world of music, ballet, art and culture. She lives on in them.  

Wanda is also survived by her cousin Jurek Gorzkowski, his wife Anita and their children and grandchildren.

A memorial mass will be held at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel at the Newman Center, Umass at 10:30 am Wed September 24^th followed by a celebration of her life at the Cycon home.

Donations can be made in her honor to Hospice of the Fisher Home, 1165 N Pleasant St Amherst MA. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.