Eugenia Slomiany

With deep love and heartfelt remembrance, the family of Eugenia Slomiany announces her passing on December 7, 2025, at the age of 101. Born January 3, 1924, in the village of Owadno, part of the Werba rural commune proximal to Wlodzimierz Wolynski, Poland, Eugenia’s life was shaped by resilience, faith, and familial devotion. Eugenia’s childhood was one of an idyllic village on the eastern frontier of a reborn Poland, filled with faith and education, in a multi-ethnic community of Poles, Jews and Ukrainians that instilled in her an appreciation of diversity and open-mindedness of faiths. Married at a young age in the early days of WWII, her family barely escaped regional genocide to resettle in Bartatycze with other refugees from Volhynia. An advocate of education despite her own cut short, she would find means to home-school her two children in the immediate post-war. There they lived and rebuilt their agrarian lives and community anew. In search of opportunity, Eugenia, her husband, and youngest son found means to emigrate to the United States in 1960, joining family of the regional diaspora to settle in Wallington, NJ. Driven to rebuild yet again, she would become a skilled seamstress and dressmaker among the textile factories of Passaic and supplementing the family’s income through jobs as diverse as catering and working at the famous “Kaczmarek” bakery. A Gold Star Mother, the sorrowful designation carried profound meaning to her. She often spoke with tearful pride about the dedication of the bridge at Paterson Avenue and Main Avenue in Wallington, named in memory of her beloved son, Kazimierz Slomiany, who was killed in action during the Vietnam Conflict. Despite such tragedy, she lived her faith deeply and was an active and cherished member of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus R.C. Church, where she served as a Eucharistic Minister. Her devotion and faith would lead to Rome and an audience with Saint John Paul II, who would later write to thank her for the gift of music from her beloved Aria Choir. Indeed, Eugenia’s great passion was singing, and she found her joy as a member of Aria Choir for 46 years. With the choir she would travel the United States and Canada, record albums of music, and make many life-long friends. She would spend her later 4 decades on a hilltop home in East Rutherford, tending to her garden and the grandchildren of her elder son, Bronislaw. She could be found with her tape recorder practicing for choir and was rarely without a song - humming or singing to them daily. Some were choir songs; others were songs she had sung during harder days in Poland. For Eugenia, these conjured the memories and emotions of a distant past, a continent and time away. She felt there were lessons in those hardships that had value, chief of which was the transformative nature of education in all forms; a value she instilled in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild. Through song and church, Eugenia championed the Polish American community in Northern New Jersey, keeping traditions alive in the Polish diaspora and supporting the Solidarity movement from abroad. She took part with Aria Choir annually in the Pulaski Day Parade and celebrations in Wallington and New York City. Eugenia could often be found riding on a float with her fellow Aria Choir members and was named a Parade Marshall in 2015. Eugenia’s talents as a seamstress, crafter, gardener, cook, and singer kept her young beyond her years. She was seldom without a project in hand, and her creations are all treasured by their recipients. No trip to her home was ever without a meal, a snack, or something to bring home. There was never a spring without her garden full of flowers, berries and vegetables, and Eugenia delighted in admiring nature’s course. Her nurturing spirit will long be remembered by her family and all who knew her. Eugenia was the daughter of the late Leon Murdzia and Janina (née Mikler). She was predeceased by her devoted husband, Feliks Slomiany, and by her sons, Dr. Bronislaw Leszek Slomiany and Kazimierz Slomiany. She was also predeceased by her sisters, Anna Ogejczyk and Urszula Murdzia. She leaves behind her loving daughter-in-law, Dr. Amalia Slomiany (née Niewieczerzal), who remained close to her throughout the years. Eugenia will be forever cherished by her grandchildren: Lee Slomiany, Dr. Beatrix A. Slomiany and her partner Jason Acree, and Dr. Mark G. Slomiany and his wife Dr. Jenny Slomiany. Her legacy continues through her great-granddaughter, Leona Eugenia Slomiany, her namesake and a bright joy in her later years. Eugenia’s life was a testament to perseverance, devotion, and enduring love. She will be remembered for her strength of spirit, her dedication to faith and community, and the deep pride she carried for her family. Her memory will forever remain in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

Eugenia Slomiany

January 3, 1924 - December 7, 2025