Dr Ewa Jadwiga Kedra-Hruczkowska

It is with great sadness and much love that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother Ewa, who passed away on December 12, 2024 at the age of 91 years, in Edmonton Alberta Canada.

Ewa will be lovingly remembered by her only child, Dr Tomasz Wit Hruczkowski, and his wife Lynn (Fraser) Hruczkowski, granddaughter Hanna Ewa Hruczkowski, grandson Dr Jakub Tomasz Hruczkowski, his wife Charlotte and their son Maximilian Tomasz Hruczkowski, Ewa's great grandson and the love of her life. Her family in Poland, including brother Juliusz Kedra and wife Zofia, sister Anna (Kedra) Switluk and husband Jan, nephews Piotr, Jakub, Michal, Krzysztof and their families, grieve Ewa’s passing and are grateful for her strong presence in their lives..

Ewa was predeceased by her husband, Dr Lech Hruczkowski, her parents Stefania and Edward Kedra and her eldest brother Tomasz.

Born in Komarow, Poland in 1933, Ewa’s early life was greatly impacted by the effects of the Second World War. As a young girl, she was a part of the Polish resistance, carrying messages to the partisans fighting against German occupants in the forests outside her hometown of Janow Lubelski.

A strong and determined young woman, at 18, Ewa was one of the youngest students to attend medical school in Lublin. Here, she specialized in internal medicine and cardiology and attained a doctorate in cardiac diseases. It was also here that she met her husband, Lech, who achieved his doctorate in obstetrics and gynecology. Together, they practiced and taught at the Medical University in Lublin. In 1958, they welcomed their only child, Tomasz.

In 1971, Ewa and Lech were granted permission by the Polish Communist Government to participate in a one-year scientific exchange with hospitals in Buffalo, New York. Following their return to Lublin, they were invited by the government of Nigeria to assist in the reestablishment of the medical services of cardiology and gynecology in the city of Kano.

They returned to Poland in 1981. Lech passed away in 1982. Ewa settled in Izabelin, a town located in the Kampinos Forest outside of Warsaw. A natural caregiver, she continued to practice cardiology at numerous hospitals and clinics throughout Warsaw, and often met with patients at her home. Ewa retired from active medical practice at the age of 85.

An avid skier, Ewa spent many family holidays in Zakopane in the Tatra Mountains. In later years, she loved skiing with her family in Jasper and Banff, continuing to ski until her 87th birthday. Ewa had a beautiful voice and enjoyed singing, dancing and welcoming friends and family to her home; she was always the life of the party.

In a time when life was not easy for a woman in a Communist country, Ewa was a true trailblazer and pioneer. Her strength and determination, her kindness and generosity are the traits that her family and friends will remember and cherish always.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date in Warsaw, Poland.

In Ewa’s honour, her family invites you to enjoy a shot of Polish vodka and salute her life and memory. Na Zdrowie!