100th Birthday
On a sunny Sunday, November 23, 2014 year we went for a unique birthday. And so really we were invited to come together with family Helena-Urban Ciosek make a particular Polish accent to this momentous event.
The most active representatives of our organization, or club "Sunshine" from Rockland, NY - Olivia, Max and Sebastian Pogon, all in beautiful Krakow's costumes - appeared in the Senior House Dowling Gardens in Sparkill (Rockland, NY). The dignified birthday girl received them symbolically white and red roses. Then the children sang for her Polish-known songs: "I have a handkerchief embroidered", "Sow Highlanders", and of course the traditional "100 years" and "Oh my rosemary". The performance sibling was a great surprise for the birthday girl and her guests. The idea to organize a performance fell short granddaughter, Dorothy, who always remembered that my grandmother loved Polish songs, and he always proudly emphasizes its origin. Of course it was a difficult test for our "artists". And although at the beginning of stage fright accompanied them, that's great coped with this task.
Grandma Helen is a very interesting person. She was born in the United States, however, he has always felt and feel a Pole. Her parents Michael and Julia Ciosek, poor, illiterate, came to America - as many of our compatriots - for bread. Helen was born in Manhattan 21 November 1914 year. She was one of eight children of the Ciosek family. Ciosek’s were very committed to the Polish Church of St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr. Her dad Michael for many years he was a member of the Parish Council (Trustee). Like her many siblings, in this church was baptized, he joined the First Communion, Confirmation and then.
It fulfilled a childhood dream or her to lovingly speak and write in Polish. She taught at a Polish school in Manhattan, and the church of St. Stanislaus was an active parishioner. She married Joseph Urban and raised three children. He had complied with 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Her brother Frank Ciosek helped launch in Poland the first program of Alcoholics Anonymous. All of her siblings were educated people. America has become the dream land for the whole family.
On the occasion of his 100th birthday on November 22 Helena received greetings and blessings from Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York. Jubilatka also received a congratulatory letter with the blessing of the parish of St. Stanislaus BiM, and an occasional letter from Consul Ewa Juńczyk-Ziomecka from the Consulate General of Poland in Manhattan.
Birthday celebration also graced with the presence of the chief of police in Orangetown, Kevin Nulty, who handed the badge of honor Mrs. Helena with the relevant proclamation. Present at the birthday party of Polonia three of our children, after singing the most anticipated "100 years", wished to the jubilee “next hundred years!”
As happens on birthdays, they prepared a wonderful cake. Our "artists" were so thrilled about their role that even the grandmother wanted to help put out the three candles. Why only three instead of 100? It's an unusual story with a surprising punch line. A year earlier, on the 99th birthday of her grandmother Helena, the family prepared a big cake with 99 candles. When it was lit, the fire alarm went off throughout the resort, peppering of stress not only residents and their care givers, but also guests invited to the party. The family members said, it was the most loudly and expensive birthday party because of multiple firefighter trucks that have arrived.
Cake was accidentally set just below the heat sensor. The organizers have been informed post factum that the fire system only accepts three candles. That's why only 3 candles were lighted at this year's cake.
Grandma Helen does not look to be of her age and remains unexpectedly very active. It can only hearing some of her refuses to obey, but from what electronics and appropriate equipment. But it has excellent memory. Especially, after the official show, he wished to have Bob Vinton song "My dear, I love you" (My Melody of Love), as well as anything from the repertoire of Italian, because her friend out of the room is Italian. By joining forces, we managed to fulfill her wish, but even a few bars of "O sole mio" was not so easy to sing. Polish-American event with touches of Italian went great.
Dear Jubilee - all the best! See you next year!