Zbigniew Jan Janik

Peacefully, at University Hospital in London, Ontario on Saturday, January 18, 2020, Zbigniew Jan "John" Janik in his 94th year. Beloved husband of the late Cezaria. Loving father of Teresa and her husband Steven, Andrew and his wife Colleen, and his sisters Danuta and Anna. Beloved grandfather (Dziadzio) of Claire (Sophie), Mickie, Aaron, Matthew (Maryse) and Laura. Pre-deceased by his brother Mieczyslaw , infant brother Andrzej, and
brothers-in-law Tadeusz and Andrzej.

Born 1926 in Leszczyny, Poland, to Leon Jozef Janik and Klara Helena Maria Urbanke, Zbigniew attended school in Katowice from 1933 to 1939. His schooling was interrupted by the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. Separated from his father for a time, Zbigniew and his family fled East, while he continued his high school education. Soon after, unfortunately, Zbigniew's infant brother's life was lost at the age of 5 weeks. Zbigniew took further education in German-controlled Poland for 2 years, and after D-Day, he joined the Polish 2nd Corps in Italy. While part of the 2nd Warsaw Division, 2nd Motorized Battalion, Zbigniew remained dedicated to completing his education, attending military classes in mathematics and physics. After the war, Zbigniew arrived in England in 1946 along with many of his compatriots, and finished his high school education. He attended the University of London until 1951, and soon after graduating began working for the English Electric Company. In 1954, he married Cezaria in Kensington, London, and moved to Rugby, Warwickshire.

Following their immigration to Canada on Thanksgiving in 1956, Zbigniew and Cezaria remained active members of the Polish community in Toronto, Ontario. Zbigniew became a senior manager at Ontario Hydro, where he oversaw the design and implementation of nuclear, fossil, and hydraulic power generation sites, including the Niagara Falls and Pickering power generation sites. As part of the Association of Polish Engineers in Canada, Zbigniew volunteered to help Polish immigrant engineers find work and join professional engineering associations. Zbigniew spent the last 10 years at Richmond Woods Retirement Home in London, Ontario, where he acted as ambassador, and enjoyed participating in recreational activities. He will be remembered for his relentless pursuit of knowledge and faith. Our heartfelt thanks to the Emergency Team at University Hospital, staff and caregivers from Richmond Woods Retirement Home, and "Home Instead" for their compassionate care of Zbigniew.

Visitors will be received in Christ the King Parish Chapel, 1486 Richmond St, London, on Thursday, January 23, from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m., where the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Private interment in Holy Cross Cemetery, Toronto, at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to the University of Toronto's Slaby-Ungar Endowment Fund for Polish Language and Literature, (www.donate.utoronto.ca), or to the Christ the King University Parish Refugee Sponsorship Program. (www.kings.uwo.ca/alumni/support-kings/refugee-sponsorship-program).Online condolences & Guest Book at www.oneilfuneralhome.ca (O'Neil Funeral Home, London, in charge of arrangements. 519-432-7136)


Donations by Mail:

"Slaby-Ungar Endowment Fund for Polish Language and Literature"

Send to:

Polish Studies Fund
c/o M. J. Zaremba
20 Rykert Cres.
Toronto, ON. M4G 2S9

Make payable to: Polish Studies at the University of Toronto

"King University Parish Refugee Sponsorship Program"

Send to:

King's University College Foundation
266 Epworth Avenue
London, ON N6A 2M3

Please include your name, address and phone number, and specify the Christ the King University Parish Refugee Sponsorship Program