Jadwiga Tonia (nee Puk), on December 15, 2023, of Bellmawr. Age 96.

Beloved wife of the late Karol Tonia. Devoted mother of Diane Tonia and Sigmund Tonia (Daryl). Loving Babcia of Jessica and Eric Tonia. Dear sister of Stephanie Chaplain, Alice Tecza, Jane Krygiel, Albina Puk, and the late Anthony Puk, Jozef Puk, Edward Puk, Eugenia Turzanski, and Christine Morehouse. Sister-in-law of Zofia Tonia. Also survived by nieces and nephews.

Jadwiga was born in Medusa Poland in 1927. In 1939 at the age of 12 her childhood ended. In the early morning hours Russian soldiers came to her house. The soldiers told her father to pack some belongings and bring picks, axes and other tools. When her father asked where they were going the soldiers would not respond and placed a gun to her father's head. The family, and the entire village, was loaded onto cramped cattle cars and took a long and arduous journey (weeks) to a work camp in Siberia; Krasnoyarsk region Mansky district. Many people did not survive the journey.

While in Siberia her father chopped down trees and her mother had to sweep the road to keep the ice from freezing. Jadwiga's job was to take care of the children. When her mother became ill Jadwiga had to replace her and maintain the road from freezing. Jadwiga always said if you didn't work you didn't eat. After 2 years in Siberia there was an amnesty and the camp was liberated by the Polish Army. The family fled to Persia (Teheran, Iran) followed by India and then Uganda Africa. While in Africa she continued her high school education. After 6 years in Africa the family was sent to England. In England she married Karol ( member of the Polish Army who fought at Monte Cassino), settled in Leceister, and had 2 children; Diane (Danusia) and Sigmund (Zygmundt). Jadwiga and her family lived in England for 10 years and moved to America in August 1958. Throughout her life Jadwiga showed her strength, resiliency and braveness. These qualities were passed onto her children and grandchildren.

There will be a viewing from 9:45am until 10:45am on Wednesday, December 20 at St. Joseph's Church, 1010 Liberty St. Camden, NJ. Funeral mass 11:00am at the church. Internment at St. Joseph's Cemetery, Blackwood, NJ.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Jadwiga's memory to St. Joseph's Church: 1010 Liberty St., Camden, NJ 08104; https://stjosephscamdennj.com/ 856-963-1285

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