Obituary for Boleslaw Plewa
BOLESLAW “Jack” PLEWA, age 70, recipient of the Polish Cross of Freedom and Solidarity Medal, passed away peacefully on February 26, 2022, with his loving wife and son by his side. Devoted husband to 49 years to Zofia “Sophie” Plewa (nee Archiszewski). Loving father to David Plewa and the late Mariusz Plewa. Beloved grandfather to Vivienne Grace Plewa. Dear brother to Peter Plewa and his wife, Wislawa, and the late Adam Plewa and his wife, Christina.
Boleslaw was born on December 11, 1951, to John and Anna Plewa (nèe Neklan). John Plewa was a nazi concentration camp survivor during WWII. After being freed by the U.S. Armed Forces and brought back to health, he was given the opportunity to go to the U.S. He turned it down to return to his pregnant wife.
John Plewa lost his eyesight in his 30’s and Boleslaw started working at the age of 10 to help his family. At age 19, after bringing the family farm to success, he left home and started his own life.
Boleslaw was an amateur boxer and started his apprenticeship to become a tool and dye maker. He met Zofia Arciszewski in the hospital and dated for two years; they married on April 21,1973. Boleslaw and Zofia had three beautiful children: David Stanley Plewa (4-4-77 to present), the late Eva Plewa (12-17-73 to 12-24-73), and the late Mariusz Mathew Plewa (8-23-75 to 6-22-18).
Boleslaw joined the Solidarity movement to fight against the Russian communists that occupied Poland and other countries after WWII, following in his fathers footsteps. On December 13, 1981, then Polish president Jaruzelski declared Martial Law in Poland. Minutes after midnight, Boleslaw was arrested, thrown to the floor, put in handcuffs, and dragged out of his home…all in front of his wife and toddler children. After six months in prison, he called and said he had two choices: Stay in prison forever, or go to the U.S., who was giving political asylum for Solidarity members. He asked Zofia if she and the children would come with him.
On February 17,1983, the Plewa family arrived in North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was a huge struggle, with only $100 to their name and not knowing the English language. After a few years, they bought a house in Kensington and then moved to Lawncrest. Boleslaw attended CCP while Zofia attended Northeast high school, in order to properly learn the English language.
He continued in the Solidarity movement for many years, attending rallies and protests to honor the people who gave their lives to the cause.
Boleslaw sent his kids to Catholic school so they would have a good education. While struggling to pay the tuition, he worked in construction. The hard labor over the years took a toll on his back and knees, and he then worked as a mechanic for the rest of his life.
On November 30, 2021, he was honored and presented with Polish Cross of Freedom and Solidarity Medal at the Polish Embassy in New York, 39 years and 11 months after his arrest in Poland.
Boleslaw was a wonderful father, grandfather, loyal husband, proud Solidarity member, and a devout Catholic. He will always be greatly missed by his family and they will always be proud and astonished of the man he was.
Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing Saturday, March 5, 2022, from 8:30am until 9:45am at St. Adalbert Church, 2645 E. Allegheny Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19134, followed by his funeral mass, 10:00am. Interment will follow in Our Lady of Czestochowa Cemetery mausoleum, Doylestown, PA.
Share memories at: www.DiGiacomoFuneralHome.com
Boleslaw was born on December 11, 1951, to John and Anna Plewa (nèe Neklan). John Plewa was a nazi concentration camp survivor during WWII. After being freed by the U.S. Armed Forces and brought back to health, he was given the opportunity to go to the U.S. He turned it down to return to his pregnant wife.
John Plewa lost his eyesight in his 30’s and Boleslaw started working at the age of 10 to help his family. At age 19, after bringing the family farm to success, he left home and started his own life.
Boleslaw was an amateur boxer and started his apprenticeship to become a tool and dye maker. He met Zofia Arciszewski in the hospital and dated for two years; they married on April 21,1973. Boleslaw and Zofia had three beautiful children: David Stanley Plewa (4-4-77 to present), the late Eva Plewa (12-17-73 to 12-24-73), and the late Mariusz Mathew Plewa (8-23-75 to 6-22-18).
Boleslaw joined the Solidarity movement to fight against the Russian communists that occupied Poland and other countries after WWII, following in his fathers footsteps. On December 13, 1981, then Polish president Jaruzelski declared Martial Law in Poland. Minutes after midnight, Boleslaw was arrested, thrown to the floor, put in handcuffs, and dragged out of his home…all in front of his wife and toddler children. After six months in prison, he called and said he had two choices: Stay in prison forever, or go to the U.S., who was giving political asylum for Solidarity members. He asked Zofia if she and the children would come with him.
On February 17,1983, the Plewa family arrived in North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was a huge struggle, with only $100 to their name and not knowing the English language. After a few years, they bought a house in Kensington and then moved to Lawncrest. Boleslaw attended CCP while Zofia attended Northeast high school, in order to properly learn the English language.
He continued in the Solidarity movement for many years, attending rallies and protests to honor the people who gave their lives to the cause.
Boleslaw sent his kids to Catholic school so they would have a good education. While struggling to pay the tuition, he worked in construction. The hard labor over the years took a toll on his back and knees, and he then worked as a mechanic for the rest of his life.
On November 30, 2021, he was honored and presented with Polish Cross of Freedom and Solidarity Medal at the Polish Embassy in New York, 39 years and 11 months after his arrest in Poland.
Boleslaw was a wonderful father, grandfather, loyal husband, proud Solidarity member, and a devout Catholic. He will always be greatly missed by his family and they will always be proud and astonished of the man he was.
Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing Saturday, March 5, 2022, from 8:30am until 9:45am at St. Adalbert Church, 2645 E. Allegheny Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19134, followed by his funeral mass, 10:00am. Interment will follow in Our Lady of Czestochowa Cemetery mausoleum, Doylestown, PA.
Share memories at: www.DiGiacomoFuneralHome.com