UK, Ireland / Dying Polish woman in the uK whose last wish is to spend last few weeks back in Poland [50]


People are usually as happy as they make up their minds to be. Without looking too hard, I can usually find a dozen people per day to find fault with - if I take their appearance/skin color into account, I can work that up into two dozen ethnic 'assumptions' about them, their families and their way of life. There are two things you can be certain of in life - you will get **** on more than you deserve - and you will at times - be given more blessings than you deserve. I've lost MANY a job to MANY people over my six decades but their race/status/skin color/immigration status had little to do with it - somewhere, some day, on the other side of that interview desk - that 'boss' chose someone else and not me. Maybe - just maybe - they were better qualified? In a better mood that day? Didn't go into an interview with a chip on their shoulder? Or maybe - it was life, as "life" sometimes is - not always fair.

Get over it and move on - I don't even know you and I can feel your self-pity from here. Don't do that to yourself; you deserve better.

I hope the woman gets her wish.

USA, Canada / Do many Polish people in America hate Americans? [592]


Amen - John! I was fortunate as a child in that my father - an engineer- was sent to Italy for five years and we were allowed to be with him for two years of that time. I would love to travel more but as John pointed out - until I was in my mid forties, of the jobs I'd had, only one allowed for paid vacation and that was for only one week. Ten years ago, I landed a very modest clerical job at a university - we are fortunate in that our employer allows for three weeks off per year. This - unless you are a corporate manager or own your own company - is pretty much unheard of. My partner has been in his same job for 25 years - he gets two weeks of paid vacation per year. This makes travel to other companies nearly impossible. Another close friend has been with his company nearly thirty years - he his a well-paid, high level technology manager but even he is allotted only two weeks vacation per year.

I saved money for five years to be able to visit London in 2002. In 2006, I was able to visit Rome Italy because of a small amount of money left to me by a relative - I love Europe and would love to have tried to have lived overseas had I had the opportunities because I agree that living in another country opens one's eyes to cultural differences. I am saving now, to try to return to Italy again but it will be at least four years - if at all. I would love to visit Poland as well, to see my grandfather's birthplace - Krasnopol and my grandmother's - Kaliz. I will keep buying lottery tickets and hope for the best.

:)

USA, Canada / To move back to Poland from the USA or not to move back....that is the question [119]

Just scanning through and 'meeting' posters here. I wish you well in whatever you decide. After two decades of hard looking, I am finally making headway on finding my grandparent's families and extended family in Krasnopol and Kalisz. If I had the means/time - I would love to come to Poland for a few years but my age and lack of funds will never allow it. I don't feel that any time spent travelling or living in another country is ever a waste, though. I was fortunate enough to live many years in Italy as a child - learning about others, especially those with whom you share 'roots' can be difficult, yes - even exceedingly so - but always builds character and appreciation for other customs/ways. As for being 'accepted as a pole' - let me share this - I am from the USA - I was born a 'southerner' to a Polish father and American mother - even 'here' there will always be people who treat others as 'outsiders'. I identify as a "Southerner" here and was raised "Southern" but there have been family on my mother's side, who never accepted my father's family "Ooo- they are 'foreigners' - yuck! dirty-sloppy-stupid - and etc" This "Us versus Them" attitude is not something only found in certain places - it is found everywhere, in every country under the sun. Go where you go with good intent and good heart - you WILL meet those whom you may call 'family' everywhere you go. The Polish people I've been fortunate enough to know in my family have taught me this - 'our' Polish family people here and back in Poland/Lithuania - they work HARD, they play HARD, they love Hard - they are 'all or nothing' people - huge hearts and spirits - when I say "Hard" - I mean with all the heart and soul. You will find people to accept you - and as we say here, it is simply a case of "Mind over Matter" - if you don't mind, 'they' (those who won't/don't accept you) should not matter. LOL. Bona Fortuna!

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]

OH, thank you for the chuckle! I needed one today! I'm not 'qualified' to respond as I've never been *acquainted* with anyone who was not, ah....nipped/tucked. I will say this - I believe it is a personal decision and has very little to do with cleanliness in terms of lack of circumcision being equal to bad bathing habits or a lack of care with regard to one's physical state - if a fellow takes care of his personal hygiene as he 'should' - on a daily basis - I do not see a problem. Someone else has mentioned the Japanese - due to family in the military, we've a lot of friends and and travels there - I have to say they are the cleanest human beings I've ever known - very fastidious and has been said, they do not practice circumcision. It's a 'prickly' issue, I guess. LOL. Cheers -

Genealogy / Lublin - Looking for Klepacki - Klepadlo - Klepackzi - Blaschik - etc Ancestors [18]

Good Morning, Boletus -
The information I have is taken directly from the immigration form that my grandmother filled out - she stated in writing that she was born in "Kalish" and I am using her spelling of the name of that town. My Grandfather stated on his form that he was born in "Krasnopol" amd I am using his spelling. - well, then again, perhaps I am assuming this because although they were present and gave this information for the official US form, the form is typed - heaven help us - these spellings may be the result of error on the part of the person typing the answers as they were typewritten on this form. As you pointed out earlier - in trying to sound out these place names, someone unfamiliar with Polish place names or linguistic spellings could easily have made errors.

At "Ancestry.Com" - someone else looking for family in "Kalish" was advised there is another spelling - "Kaluz" - I am so new to all of this and the area and history is so broad/varied and subject to change that I hesitate to assume anything but I will happily take your advice - I trust your guidance.

Genealogy / The typical Polish look, or all Eastern Europeans [656]

My father's mother and her sister, who came from Kalusz, were never what anyone would have described as 'thin' or 'willowy' - nor were their daughters. My great-uncles both married lovely women from near Krakow, in the 1940's and neither of them were thin. I think it depends a lot on genetics, no matter where you are from. We seem to have two types of men/ women in our family from our Polish sides - the ladies are either thin and look VERY slavic - green/blue eyes, blonde/reddish blonde hair and wiry slender but muscular men - or you have the 'chubby' ones - green/blue eyes, very fair coloring, blonde/reddish hair - very wavy/curly but very plump even when young.

My brother and I - in photographs taken twenty years apart

We have always been told that we very strongly resemble our Klepacki/Blaszcyzk relatives

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USA, Canada / Better life in USA or Canada? - expats opinions and your comparison [143]

Our weather - as everywhere else - has changed/is changing.

I spent the early part of my life in the southeastern part of US - North Carolina/Virginia/South Carolina - snow was not terribly common in the lower parts of these states (the mountainous regions, yes but not like in Europe) - a snow of roughly 2" deep could shut some cities down for several days. Now - those areas see snows of a foot or more. In 1999, we had over two feet of snow near Greensboro, NC - and it took a week for people to get electric back on and streets to be clear.

In the Midwest - Missouri/Illinois, where I have lived for over twenty years - we used to have commonly snow of two and three feet - now, the weather around St. Louis has shifted - we seldom have snow more than five inches - it has been at least 15 years since a deep snow around St. Louis. St. Louis and Illinois, do get very cold, though - down to 0 is not uncommon in January/February but the summer is hideously hot - over 100 degrees - like hell has relocated itself. I have always credited my parents/grandparents polish roots to be why I prefer the cold weather so much!

I will say - if anyone is considering a beautiful place to live or to visit in the United States - the middle to upper regions of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia are truly beautiful - in summer, the temperatures are not so horribly hot and in winter, even though there is snow, the cold does not tend to be as bitter. Good cost of living even for those who do not have a lot of money and the beauty of Mountains at one part and the ocean at the other - good tourism and places to visit. Most of my polish cousins, whose parents moved to New York, New Jersey and Illinois from Poland have gone to live in the Carolinas. Our family joke is we have the best of both worlds - Polish and 'Southerners' - :)

St. Louis has a fair-sized Polish population but not so much like Chicago or New York or other points east.

In the south, too - people tend to be far more friendly and accepting of others. More relaxed - which can be frustrating to those who are very busy, busy all the time. A slower pace of life which some come to enjoy. All places have good and bad aspects, of course.

As to the health insurance, politics and serious issues we face here in the US - yes, we are going through very bad times right now - much uncertainty. I can honestly say that I am not pleased with either of our choices in the coming elections. Our politics seem to be nothing now but useless bickering and no real action to be strong and to take action needed - to work together as a nation. This is just my opinion - I am not trying to start an argument with anyone - but it feels very depressing now with people so against each other. One thing is always fairly certain though - life - in one way or another - will always go on.

Genealogy / Lublin - Looking for Klepacki - Klepadlo - Klepackzi - Blaschik - etc Ancestors [18]

This may be our connection - just thought I'd post the pic.

PS - I could not use my login for some reason earlier - I am also "Alyoop2" I am sorry for any confusion.

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  My cousin Chris with our grandmother - Stella Blasczyzk Klepacki
  

Genealogy / Vintage Photos of Polish ancestors [144]

More Klepacki family
One last of our Dad, Henry Klepacki during WWII with his sister, Dorota(Dorothy) Klepacki

Klepacki Wedding - John Klepacki and Genevieve
Front Row - L-R - Zygmunt Klepacki, Joseph Klepacki - Dorothy "Dorota" Klepacki, left, above her father, Zygmunt
Back row L-R (unknown couple) Stanislawa Blasczyzk-Klepacki, Genevieve Klepacki, John Klepacki, Nell Klepacki
Jersey City, New Jersey, USA

Our cousin Christine and her grandmother (our grandmother) Stanislawa Blasczyzk-Klepacki

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  Klepacki Wedding
  
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  Christine Klepacki Brewer and Stanislawa Blasczyzk Klepacki
  

Genealogy / Vintage Photos of Polish ancestors [144]

Our Father, Henry (Hendrick) Dominic Klepacki (August 1917 - September 1994)
Taken in Germany in 1944. Patton's Third Armor Divison

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  Eagle's Nest Germany
  
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Genealogy / Lublin - Looking for Klepacki - Klepadlo - Klepackzi - Blaschik - etc Ancestors [18]

To all - apologies for not posting in such a while.

Up until today, most of my queries regarding my Grandfather and Grandmother's information had reached dead ends. In today's mail, I received a packet from a cousin. This packet contains my grandfather's naturalization/immigration papers, marriage license and other stories/photos. For anyone researching the Klepacki/Klepacka - Blasczyk - Blaszczyk names.

A note - someone above questioned the spelling of my grandfather's name - all I can say is: His immigration form - typed- spells his name as : Zygmont. He, himself, hand signed his first name as Zygmunt. Again - I truly do not know who is wrong/right - the spelling on his tombstone is different still - Siegmund.

UNITED STATES DOCUMENT

United States of America #94865
Declaration of Intention
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State of New Jersey, County of Hudson, Jersey City, N.J

Zygmunt lists his date of birth as July 8th, 1879 in the village of Krasnopol.

He was married to Stanislawa (we called her Stella) Blasczyk on July 4th, 1905 (in the USA)

The form states that Stanislawa was born in Kalish (Kaliz?) Poland on May 8th, 1889.

______________________

According to these papers, Zygumunt had at least two brothers: Casimir (Charles) Leo/Leon and one sister, Josephine. They all came to the USA (unknown if they came together or at different times) at the sponsorship of an "Uncle". Zygmunt was said to have been a "Cossack". In America, he was employed as a carpenter. From what I can gather, up until around 1920 - the Klepacki's all lived in or around Jersey City NJ or Bayonne area of New York. A family falling out is rumored to have caused Charles and Josephine to move away. Leo/Leon died relatively young of tuberculosis. According to the papers I have, Zygmunt fought in the Spanish American war but I can find no other confirmation of this. One piece of Zygmunt's carpentry/woodworking skill survives to this day, in a church in Jersey City, NJ. The shrine of the "Miraculous Crucifix" at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church on Monmouth Street. The corpus and crucifix were made by Zygmunt.

As far as my grandmother, Stanislawa goes - she reportedly had a brother, Joseph/Josef and a sister, referred to as "Bertha" - I wonder if this could have been the "Bronislawa" I have seen in some of my searching? I will post more over the weekend. God bless you all in your searches!

jblaschik
Jamie - do you know about this link?

findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=93016650

I hope this helps!

Genealogy / Lublin - Looking for Klepacki - Klepadlo - Klepackzi - Blaschik - etc Ancestors [18]

Boletus - thank you with all my heart. At least I have some pathways to search, thanks to the help I've received. God bless!

Nancy Klepacki

Genealogy / Lublin - Looking for Klepacki - Klepadlo - Klepackzi - Blaschik - etc Ancestors [18]

Merged: Family of Siegmund/Zigmundt Klepacki and Stanislawa Blasczyck - after Moving to US -

Photographs of my paternal Grandfather, Zigmundt Klepacki, taken in his later years, with his sons (my father and uncles) Henry/Hank (Henderick Dominick) Joseph, John and Stanley M. in New Jersey. These photos are ca 1930's

Photographs of my paternal Grandmother, Stanislawa Blasczyzk, taken in her later years, with my aunts, Dorothy and Nell in New Jersey, The photos are ca 1940's 1950's

Zigmundt Klepacki is believed to have been a Cossack officer. He was born in 1878/1879. Supposedly he had two brothers, Leon/Leo and Casimir/Casimiri/Kasimir who also moved to New Jersey between 1895 and 1906. There was also believed to have been a sister, Josephine - who also moved to the US, New York area during that time. We do not know what became of Leon/Casimiri aka "Charles" and Josephine, other than Leon is buried in Holy Name Cemetery in New Jersey.

Zigmundt, Casimiri, Leon and Josephine were believed to have been from either Lublin or Suwalki.

Stanislawa Blasczyzk was believed to have been from Stary Gostkow

If any of these resemble people someone else is also searching for, feel free to contact me.

Thank you,

Nancy Klepacki

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  Stanislawa Blasczyzk Klepacki, Nell and Dorota
  
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  Stanislawa Klepacki, Christine Klepacki, Nell Klepacki
  
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  Klepacki Men!! John, Joe, Stanley M., Henry and Zigmundt
  
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  Joe Klepacki wedding with Nell Klepacki and Zigmundt
  

Genealogy / Vintage Photos of Polish ancestors [144]

Taken in Jersey City, New Jersey - 1935 - 1950's

My Grandfather Klepacki, "Siegmund" or "Zygmundt" in his later years - either from Lublin or Suwalki - we've heard he was a Cossack officer - Born 1878 or 1879

My Grandmother Klepacki "Stanislawa" or "Stella" her maiden name was Blasczyzk - it is believed she was from near Stary Gostkow - Born 1890/91 -

My grandparents were not married in Poland - they married in Jersey City, NJ around 1906. It was a pre-arranged marriage. They did not know each other before.

It is believed my Grandfather had two brothers, Leon and Casimir/Casimiri/Kasimir or "Charles" - who moved to NY/NJ 1900-1907
It is believed my Grandfather had a sister, Josephine - we do not know what became of her.

My Grandmother had a sister, Bronislawa - she came to the US with Stanislawa but we do not know what became of her, either.

My Father, Henry/Henderick Dominic Klepacki - 1981 - 1994
My Uncles, Joe, John and Stanley
My Aunts - Dorothy and Nellie

If anyone sees a resemblance or is looking for their Klepacki families in the US - please let me know.

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  Stanislawa `Stella` Klepacki
  
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  Stanislawa Klepacki Nell Klepacki Christine Klepacki
  
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  Grandfather Zigmundt/Sigmund Klepacki, Joe, John and Henry Klepacki
  
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  Klepacki Nell, Dorothy and Friend
  

Language / "Ego" as an ending in Polish Names? [19]

Chrisoz, I know exactly what you mean. It's frustrating and it is very sad. My cousins tell me that when they were young, our Grandparents and their brothers and sisters would only speak Polish when they did not want the children to understand what they were saying. None of us speak any Polish and I feel that we lost a great deal - not only of our families stories, but our heritage as well. People are people - as humans we sometimes do foolish/stupid or 'bad' things - I would love to know of our history both the good and bad. I feel as if there are links out there but my lack of understanding keeps me from finding those links and making connections. I look up "Klepacki" and pictures of people in Poland and often, I see strong resemblance to my father's family. Like ghosts.

Well, I do know one thing for certain - nothing beats a home-made, properly cooked Keilbasa and some pierogies!

Thanks again to all of you for helping us 'newcomers' to understand.

Nancy

Genealogy / Lublin - Looking for Klepacki - Klepadlo - Klepackzi - Blaschik - etc Ancestors [18]

Polonius3 - many thanks for this. I appreciate knowing anything I can find out.

Nancy

Language / "Ego" as an ending in Polish Names? [19]

Smurf - Gee thank you. Much help.

Ziutek - you, dear heart - are my personal hero today! I am new to this and do not speak Polish. My father spoke it often and I remember how many words 'sound' but no idea as to how they are spelled or rules of grammer. Again, many, many thanks.

Nancy Klepacki - Illinois, USA

Genealogy / Help with Polish Surnames and Variants Klepacki and Blasczyk [15]

Thanks again -

I've been to the Ellis Island archives, GenForum, Ancestry.Com, RootsWeb and the LDS Church in the US sites.
What's driving me insane is that I think I may have found a possible brother for my grandfather, and all of the children in 'his' family - bear - for the most part, the same family names as my iine, during the same time period. I now have a headache. LOL!

History / Questions about Polish borders, Galicia and Cossacks. [50]

My Grandfather was a Cossack, does that count? I'm trying to find more information on him, but it's been tough going.

At least I have a new 'life saying' -

In the US, sometimes we say (when advising someone not to push you to your 'limit') - "Don't make me go all postal on you!"

I now say, "Don't make me go all Cossack on you!"

LOL!

(I'm a chubby, slightly-older-than-middle-aged woman - which makes this even funnier; at least I think so!)

USA, Canada / Polish Food - 40 flavors of pierogies in the US [113]

Pierogi...AND Brisket????!!!

Be still my beating heart. We live near St. Louis, Missouri, USA - does anyone know where/how these might be ordered. I'm drooling all over the keyboard....

Food / POLISH RECIPES! [287]

Oh, oh, laughing so hard it hurts. Reference the "Elephant Stew" Is this dish better the next day?

Genealogy / Help with Polish Surnames and Variants Klepacki and Blasczyk [15]

Thanks so much for that - my Stanislawa was 16 when she arrived, though. I truly appreciate the info, though.

Genealogy / Help with Polish Surnames and Variants Klepacki and Blasczyk [15]

No, theirs was an arranged marriage. He came over in 1906 and I believe she came over in 1904. At that time, they were both living in Jersey City, NJ. Siegmund apparently had a brother named "Charles" - he signed documents as next of kin. Other than that, I don't know anything else. I'm trying to find both her and his parents/siblings. When she came over, she was accompanied by Bronislawa Blasczyzk - but aside from the ship manifest, there is no other mention of her that I can find.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU - YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH THIS INFORMATION MEANS TO ME.