My grandmother Stanisława Graca (née Walewander) -

As of now, I do not have much information about my other grandmother, Stanisława (my father’s mother). She was born on December 14, 1918, in Niemirówek, and passed away on May 13, 1996, in a hospital in Tomaszów Lubelski.

Her maiden name was Walewander.
Her parents—my great-grandparents—were Katarzyna and Kazimierz Walewander from Niemirówek.

I do not know much about my grandmother Stanisława’s childhood and youth.
Apparently, before World War II, she worked as a domestic helper at a wealthy manor house, though I do not know the details.
Afterward, from 1939 onwards, she spent the entire war here in the Zamość region.

I know for certain that on February 1, 1943, she took part in the Battle of Zaboreczno—one of the battles of the victorious Zamość Uprising.

She served as both a liaison and a medic, tending to our partisans who were fighting against the German occupiers. As a liaison, she carried messages.

I possess certificates from the Office for War Veterans and Victims of Oppression confirming that my grandmother, Stanisława Graca (née Walewander), was active in the Peasant Battalions (*Bataliony Chłopskie*) from June 1942 to July 1944.

It is remarkable how the stories of both my grandmothers intertwine. My maternal grandmother, Franciszka Łojko (née Kozłowska; April 24, 1919 – July 22, 1995)—whom I wrote about some time ago on my blog in a post concerning World War II—was in the final stages of pregnancy with my aunt Weronika in January/February 1943. On that day, February 1, 1943, she was making her way back to Hutków from her sister’s place, walking across fields and meadows. These localities (Hutków, Zaboreczno, Niemirówek) lie close to one another, all situated roughly between Krasnobród and Tarnawatka.

Below is an excerpt from that earlier post:

PART 1
Late January 1943. Fleeing yet another German military raid on the village of Hutków (then in the Suchowola commune; currently in the Krasnobród commune, Zamość County, Lublin Province), Franciszka Łojko went to visit her sister, Feliksa Borek, who lived in the nearby village of Borki. Franciszka was already nine months pregnant. She likely stayed with Feliksa for one day.
On the evening of February 1, 1943—after dark—she was returning to Hutków with her other sister, Marynka (both lived in Hutków). They were walking along a field path between Borki and Hutków. As they neared the village, they saw Germans illuminating the area with flashlights. When the Germans turned the lights in their direction, Franciszka and Marynka quickly dropped to the ground so the occupying troops would not spot them. It was very difficult for the pregnant Franciszka to keep dropping to the ground. They scanned the area for shelter, but it was too dark. Franciszka had been carrying a can of honey—a gift from Feliksa of Borki, who kept an apiary—but she had left it somewhere in the field; had the Germans seen her carrying honey, they likely would have killed them, assuming it was intended for the partisans (especially given that the Battle of Zaboreczno—a village just a few kilometers from Hutków—had taken place on February 1st). Whenever the searchlights turned away and darkness returned, the sisters would rise and flee, only to drop to the ground again moments later. This happened repeatedly. Fortunately, they found shelter behind a small hill known locally as “Patuczek” (a name still used by the Hutków community today). A tree grew nearby, and both women hid beneath its exposed roots. From there, they heard wagons traveling along the road near the chapel toward the village of Zaboreczno. After some time, Marynka decided to return home despite the danger, as her husband and son were there. Franciszka, however—being nine months pregnant—remained huddled beneath the tree roots until morning. Only at dawn, when the light returned and the gunfire and shouting had ceased, did she go back home. It was February 2, 1943. Two days later, on February 4, she gave birth to her daughter, Weronika, at home. To return to my grandmother Stanisława: shortly after World War II, in 1945, she married my grandfather Łukasz Graca from Pańków, and they settled there. They had five children: three daughters (Halina, Jadzia, and Zosia) and two sons (Tadzik, who died tragically in 1977, and the youngest, Kazio—my father).

rok 1949, moi dziadkowie Stanisława i Łukasz Graca (rodzice mojego taty Kazimierza) z dziećmi: od prawej najstarsza Halina, w środku ś.p. Tadeusz i na rękach u babci Jadwiga

I remember my grandmother as a very warm and kind person.
As the eldest sibling, I always stuck close to my grandmother and followed her everywhere—naturally holding my hands just like she did: clasped behind my back, with a slight stoop. 😉

My First Holy Communion
Grandma Stanisława and I
May 28, 1995

In our village, my grandmother Stanisława was known as “Staszka Łukowa” (derived from her husband’s name, Łukasz). This was because there were several women with that first name, so they had to be distinguished somehow (I remember there was also “Wielga Staszka” and “Staszka Buraczanka”—though I preferred not to ask where that last nickname came from 😉).

To wrap up, I want to remind everyone once again how important it is to keep a diary. Below is an entry my grandmother Stanisława wrote on December 28, 1995. I remember she wrote it when her health was already failing (she passed away in May 1996).

Yet, thanks to those few lines written in her own hand, she still feels close to me today. 🙂

“May you be surrounded by all that breathes of joy.

May your eyes shine with happiness, like two stars.

May your life flow sweetly, like the murmur of a stream.

These are Grandma’s wishes for Agniesia.”