Maria Wysocki

On May 28th 2020, Maria Joseph Wysocki, passed peacefully, surrounded by the loves of her life; her dog Shadow and her family. Cancer quickly took Maria away but did not diminish her grace, integrity or her beautiful and kind soul. After emigrating from Europe to Canada after WWII as a young child, her small Polish family (mother, father and sister) put the war and its tragedies behind them and began life anew.

Growing up in Northern Ontario in the 50’s and 60’s, Maria would, at the age of 16, attend Northern College in Kirkland Lake. Riding her motor bike, fearless, she would graduate and become a teacher and later teach at the college she graduated from. In the early 80’s, she got her private pilots license after being told it would be too difficult to get. After teaching, she began a long and progressive career at OPSEU, moving around Ontario as her assignments changed, until the 90’s, finally settling down in the Ottawa area and eventually retiring in 2010.

More important than her career accomplishments, she was an unwitting mentor to so many, especially women, finding their way. Her honesty, drive, intelligence, generosity, elegance and humour became their guiding light. While an intensely private person, she shared her love of dogs, good wine, great food and passion for travel easily and in retirement, felt blessed to share these with her loving friends and family.

A private visitation was held on June 3 at the Garden Chapel of Tubman Funeral Homes in Ottawa, with a life celebration to be held at a future date. Memorial donations may be made to the Ottawa Humane Society or the Canadian Cancer Society.