Henriette "Henia" Janicka Bojczuk

Henriette “Henia” Bojczuk (nee Janicka) passed away peacefully on April 6, 2024, just 10 days shy of her 92^nd birthday, in the presence of her daughters, Maria and Margarete Schymura. She was born on April 16, 1932, in Poland, to Wiktor Janicki and Marianna Janicka.  

In addition to her daughters, she is survived by her grandson, Zac Schymura, “her angel”; sister-in-law Margarete Depa, “Greta”; nieces, Anne Depa, Barbara Depa, Hanna Zalewska, Katarzyna Kusmanow, and Agnieszka Pietralik; and nephew, Peter Depa.  She is predeceased by her parents; sisters, Wiktoria Witkowska and Janina Mielczarek; brother, Ryszard Janicki; and nephew, Jacek Mielczarek.

Henia was an extremely strong-willed, fearless, and courageous woman.  She adapted to two foreign countries: first Germany in 1958 and then the U.S.  in 1966.   She greatly valued education.   Having been denied her dream of going to medical school in Poland, she relentlessly pursued a career in the health care field in the U.S.  She started working as a nurses aide; advanced to a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and then a registered nurse (RN).  She subsequently received a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and culminated her education with a Master of Arts in Psychology.  She was extremely disciplined and believed in always doing her best.

Henia was devoted to her family.  She loved nothing more than cooking and baking for her daughters and grandson and showering them with attention.  She was a devout Catholic, who truly lived a Christian life.  Not only did she attend church regularly but also showed kindness and caring to virtual strangers and the homeless.  Although of modest means, she contributed to countless charities.  Henia enjoyed the simple things in life: going for long walks, frolicking in the snow, visiting new places, reading, knitting and sewing, hosting dinner parties, playing with her daughters’ pets, and writing poetry.  

She will be very missed.