Wasilewscy and Karolakowie Family Archive

Stanislaw Karolak (1931–2009) was a linguist, romanist and slavist professionally associated with the University of Warsaw, among others. He took his passion for languages from father Marceli Kossakowski, pastor of the parish of Our Lady of Consolation in Żyrardów, where – as a young boy – he was an altar boy. The parish priest taught him Latin and Greek. He met his first wife, Danuta Wasilewska, while studying languages at the University of Warsaw. They had two daughters, Monika and Agnieszka. 

Danuta Wasilewska (1931–1997) was a long-time lecturer at the Institute of Polish Language and Culture for Foreigners “Polonicum” at the University of Warsaw and co-author of Polish language textbooks: Polnisch für Fortgeschrittene (1974), My goworim i czitajem po-polski (1984) and Uczymy się polskiego, which was published in Polish, English, French, Italian, German and Russian. During World War II, she was deported with her mother to Kazakhstan, from where they returned to Poland in 1947. After the war, she graduated in Russian Studies at Warsaw University and from the State Secondary Music School No. 1 in Warsaw, where she studied with Jadwiga Mackiewicz (known as “aunt Jadzia”) and Romuald Miazga (pedagogue, choirmaster, conductor), among others. 

Romuald Wasilewski (1906–1991) was a road engineer by profession. During World War II he was imprisoned in camps in the Arkhangelsk region and NKVD investigative prisons. As commander of the communications corps of the Polish Armed Forces of the USSR (Anders Army), he travelled the entire combat route, which he completed in London. In January 1946, he applied to return to the country. His return to Poland was a condition for the release of his wife Józefa Wasilewska and daughter Danuta Wasilewska from exile in Kazakhstan. After the war and a period of repression in the 1950s, he worked as a road engineer at the Public Roads Administration in Warsaw. 

Romuald Wasilewski (1906–1991) was a road engineer by profession. During World War II he was imprisoned in camps in the Arkhangelsk region and NKVD investigative prisons. As commander of the communications corps of the Polish Armed Forces of the USSR (Anders Army), he traveled the entire combat route, which he completed in London. In January 1946, he applied to return to Poland. His return to Poland was a condition for the release of his wife Józefa Wasilewska and daughter Danuta Wasilewska from exile in Kazakhstan. After the war and a period of repression in the 1950s, he worked as a road engineer at the Public Roads Administration in Warsaw. 

Józefa Wasilewska née Luberacka (1909–1981) was arrested in the spring of 1940 (a few weeks after her husband’s arrest) and deported to Kazakhstan with her daughter Danuta Wasilewska. During her exile, she was the initiator and founder of a Polish school in Kazakhstan. Upon her return to Poland in 1947, she worked as manager of the Nowolipki municipal buildings administration. Her professional work was interrupted by a serious accident, after which she was unable to return to work. ZUS nEwar granted her the right to a pension or disability pension.

Stanisława Karolak, née Buczyńska, was born in 1907 in Ruda Guzowska (now part of Żyrardów). She lived and died in Żyrardów. 

Stefan Karolak was born in 1902 in Ruda Guzowska. He was an employee of the state railroad. He lived and died in Żyrardów.

Films documenting Monika’s childhood, probably shot in 1963 or 1964 in Warsaw. Monika plays with her friends and rides her bicycle around Saski Garden and Zwycięstwa Square (now Marshal Jozef Pilsudski Square). On one of the winter days, the girl, together with her mother, goes to the hill and sleds down. The children play together on the playground at Monika’s kindergarten and dance in a circle. 

(AT)