Obituary for Anna "Ciocia Hania" Cieślik
The program from the funeral Mass has been attached below.
Anna Cieślik, 95, a former Maynard resident, died peacefully on February 26, 2021 in Boca Raton, Florida. Affectionately known as "Hania" by good friends and loved ones, she is survived by her beloved sister Helena Pikula, with whom she made her home in Florida. "Ciocia Hania is lovingly remembered by all her nieces, nephews and their families, as well as extended family and friends in the US and Poland.
Born in Julianow, Poland, Miss Cieślik was the daughter of the late Stanislaw and Helen (Kamińska) Cieślik, and the loving sister of the late Fr. Eugene Cieślik. She graduated from nursing school in Warsaw, Poland, and began her career as a pediatric nurse in an orphanage in Stargard Szczeciński. She then worked for several medical clinics in small towns where she was the key medical person providing care along with the doctor. Miss Cieślik immigrated to the USA in 1975 and worked as a private nurse for several elders in Maynard before retiring to Florida. Hardworking and generous, she will always be remembered for her devotion to her family.
Those who wish may visit with the family on Monday, March 8th, 2021 from 4:00-6:00pm at the Acton Funeral Home, 470 Massachusetts Ave (Rt 111) Acton. Due to pandemic capacity regulations, the funeral Mass and burial are private.
Memorial page actonfuneralhome.com
EULOGY by MAXWELL A. CANTOR, grand-nephew
for the funeral of Miss Anna Cieślik
Hi everyone. My name is Max Cantor and I would first like to thank all of you for being here today even though we are in the middle of a pandemic. Not all of you know me weil (unless you’ve heard my life story from my mom Ilona which now that I think about it you all probably have), but we are all fortunate to have been part of my Coici’s life. From when I was about 7 years old until I moved to Colorado, I had the pleasure to live with my Babci Helena and Coici Anna. Babci was basically our home chef and between Coici and I, we ate so many pierogies that Babci spent 90% of her time frying pierogies with her left hand while making new pierogies with her right. When i’d come home from school and hockey practice, I always knew the exact place that I would find COici when I got home. She would be sitting in the same seat on the couch watching TV, and most likely eating whatever polish food Babci made that day. I would go over and sit down next to her, tell her how much I loved her and cuddle up with her while I made her suffer through the movie Kicking and Screaming, Air bud, or spongebob. She never complained even though she had to watch a kids show in a language that she sometimes struggled to understand. I love thinking about moments like these where we didn’t need to talk but I could feel the love she had for me.
I am not the most religious person in our family, but I do believe that we live on after our human body passes. I believe that we continue to live through our closest friends and family. A part of Coici lives in all of us and I personally am a better person because I had Coici in my life. She taught me to be strong. She taught me to be supportive. And most importantly she taught me the importance of family. When I was younger I didn’t even notice that I was learning these things from her, but as I have grown into a somewhat functional young adult, I have been able to recognize that Coici instilled these qualities in me through example.
Coici Anna was one of the strongest women I have ever known. There are many stories I could tell you about how strong she was. People always joked that Coici would still be alive long after we were all gone. Two years ago, we thought that she had finally met her match while suffering from various health issues. The doctor called my mom and said that they would try their best to keep her alive while my mom flew home from visiting me in Seattle. I was devastated but still had hope that she would somehow recover. The doctor said that if he intubated Coici that she would probably never be able to get off of life support. Thankfully my mom pressured them into intubating and she woke up in the hospital three days later and was lucky to live for two more years.
During those two years Babci also showed me the importance of taking care of family when she visited and took care of Coici for 12 hours a day. Most nights the nursing home had to kick Babci out so that she would go home and get some sleep.
Coici was also a giver and would do anything for her family. Babci visited Coici everyday and took care of her for the past 15 years because Coici was family and Coici earned this treatment. When Babci came to America in search of a better life, she had to leave my Mom, Uncle Roland, and Corrina behind for a few years. Even though Babci missed them immensely, she was able to trust that Coici would take care of them until she could bring them all to the States. During this time, Coici acted as mother to my mom, aunt, and uncle. She cooked, cleaned, and cared for three kids all while working as a nurse in Lascion, Poland. Helping family wasn’t a one time thing for Coici.
Additionally, Coici worked hard to earn money so that she could buy a car and farming equipment for her brother and buy his daughter Justyna her first family home. My mom works very hard to carry on Coici's legacy of helping our family in Poland by shipping massive boxes full of clothes, shoes and other goodies.
Coici also taught me to support my friends and family. Even as Coici got older, her supportive spirit never gave out as she suffered through the blistering Florida heat and humidity to watch me play soccer and lacrosse. Then she would come to my hockey games in a freezing cold ice rink. At my games she would cheer me on and hang out with the other families and my teammates' little sisters and brothers. Everyone loved when she came to games but no one was happier to see her in the stands than I was. When my games ended, I would run over to coici and give her a huge hug and kiss.
One funny memory I have from Coici coming to my sporting events is that even though Coici means Auntie in Polish, everyone at the rink called her Coici and all of the parents were shocked when they found out Coici wasn’t her real name. They were even more surprised to find out that Babcis name is Helena.
Lastly, I want to thank you all again for making it today. You all being here means the world to my mom and Babci and we really appreciate all of the support you have given us. Please remember to let Coici and our other departed loved ones live on through us by continuing to share their stories and being the best versions of ourselves.
Thank you
Anna Cieślik, 95, a former Maynard resident, died peacefully on February 26, 2021 in Boca Raton, Florida. Affectionately known as "Hania" by good friends and loved ones, she is survived by her beloved sister Helena Pikula, with whom she made her home in Florida. "Ciocia Hania is lovingly remembered by all her nieces, nephews and their families, as well as extended family and friends in the US and Poland.
Born in Julianow, Poland, Miss Cieślik was the daughter of the late Stanislaw and Helen (Kamińska) Cieślik, and the loving sister of the late Fr. Eugene Cieślik. She graduated from nursing school in Warsaw, Poland, and began her career as a pediatric nurse in an orphanage in Stargard Szczeciński. She then worked for several medical clinics in small towns where she was the key medical person providing care along with the doctor. Miss Cieślik immigrated to the USA in 1975 and worked as a private nurse for several elders in Maynard before retiring to Florida. Hardworking and generous, she will always be remembered for her devotion to her family.
Those who wish may visit with the family on Monday, March 8th, 2021 from 4:00-6:00pm at the Acton Funeral Home, 470 Massachusetts Ave (Rt 111) Acton. Due to pandemic capacity regulations, the funeral Mass and burial are private.
Memorial page actonfuneralhome.com
EULOGY by MAXWELL A. CANTOR, grand-nephew
for the funeral of Miss Anna Cieślik
Hi everyone. My name is Max Cantor and I would first like to thank all of you for being here today even though we are in the middle of a pandemic. Not all of you know me weil (unless you’ve heard my life story from my mom Ilona which now that I think about it you all probably have), but we are all fortunate to have been part of my Coici’s life. From when I was about 7 years old until I moved to Colorado, I had the pleasure to live with my Babci Helena and Coici Anna. Babci was basically our home chef and between Coici and I, we ate so many pierogies that Babci spent 90% of her time frying pierogies with her left hand while making new pierogies with her right. When i’d come home from school and hockey practice, I always knew the exact place that I would find COici when I got home. She would be sitting in the same seat on the couch watching TV, and most likely eating whatever polish food Babci made that day. I would go over and sit down next to her, tell her how much I loved her and cuddle up with her while I made her suffer through the movie Kicking and Screaming, Air bud, or spongebob. She never complained even though she had to watch a kids show in a language that she sometimes struggled to understand. I love thinking about moments like these where we didn’t need to talk but I could feel the love she had for me.
I am not the most religious person in our family, but I do believe that we live on after our human body passes. I believe that we continue to live through our closest friends and family. A part of Coici lives in all of us and I personally am a better person because I had Coici in my life. She taught me to be strong. She taught me to be supportive. And most importantly she taught me the importance of family. When I was younger I didn’t even notice that I was learning these things from her, but as I have grown into a somewhat functional young adult, I have been able to recognize that Coici instilled these qualities in me through example.
Coici Anna was one of the strongest women I have ever known. There are many stories I could tell you about how strong she was. People always joked that Coici would still be alive long after we were all gone. Two years ago, we thought that she had finally met her match while suffering from various health issues. The doctor called my mom and said that they would try their best to keep her alive while my mom flew home from visiting me in Seattle. I was devastated but still had hope that she would somehow recover. The doctor said that if he intubated Coici that she would probably never be able to get off of life support. Thankfully my mom pressured them into intubating and she woke up in the hospital three days later and was lucky to live for two more years.
During those two years Babci also showed me the importance of taking care of family when she visited and took care of Coici for 12 hours a day. Most nights the nursing home had to kick Babci out so that she would go home and get some sleep.
Coici was also a giver and would do anything for her family. Babci visited Coici everyday and took care of her for the past 15 years because Coici was family and Coici earned this treatment. When Babci came to America in search of a better life, she had to leave my Mom, Uncle Roland, and Corrina behind for a few years. Even though Babci missed them immensely, she was able to trust that Coici would take care of them until she could bring them all to the States. During this time, Coici acted as mother to my mom, aunt, and uncle. She cooked, cleaned, and cared for three kids all while working as a nurse in Lascion, Poland. Helping family wasn’t a one time thing for Coici.
Additionally, Coici worked hard to earn money so that she could buy a car and farming equipment for her brother and buy his daughter Justyna her first family home. My mom works very hard to carry on Coici's legacy of helping our family in Poland by shipping massive boxes full of clothes, shoes and other goodies.
Coici also taught me to support my friends and family. Even as Coici got older, her supportive spirit never gave out as she suffered through the blistering Florida heat and humidity to watch me play soccer and lacrosse. Then she would come to my hockey games in a freezing cold ice rink. At my games she would cheer me on and hang out with the other families and my teammates' little sisters and brothers. Everyone loved when she came to games but no one was happier to see her in the stands than I was. When my games ended, I would run over to coici and give her a huge hug and kiss.
One funny memory I have from Coici coming to my sporting events is that even though Coici means Auntie in Polish, everyone at the rink called her Coici and all of the parents were shocked when they found out Coici wasn’t her real name. They were even more surprised to find out that Babcis name is Helena.
Lastly, I want to thank you all again for making it today. You all being here means the world to my mom and Babci and we really appreciate all of the support you have given us. Please remember to let Coici and our other departed loved ones live on through us by continuing to share their stories and being the best versions of ourselves.
Thank you