Krzysztof Mroz

Krzysztof was born in Kraków, Poland during the time of the Second World War. He overcame much adversity growing up in a country destroyed by war and pillaged by a foreign dictatorship. He studied hard and enrolled in medical school. In the mid-seventies he took advantage of the easing of the Polish government rules to allow foreign travel and he left for Spain, not to return to Poland until after the fall of Communism. He became a political refugee, spent a couple of years on the Island of Majorca, working as a manual labourer until all the paperwork was processed for him to be allowed to come to Canada. He embraced this country wholeheartedly. He felt a tremendous gratitude for having been given the opportunity to live in a free country full of opportunity, natural beauty, and wilderness which he adored.

Life was not without its struggles. Krzysztof arrived in Winnipeg with a limited knowledge of the English language, and he had to re-qualify as a physician and anaesthetist. He moved from Winnipeg to Regina, Kingston, Belleville and finally Ottawa.

Krzysztof had a thirst for travel, reading old and rare books written by original explorers and pioneers in the field of medicine, learning new languages and experiencing other cultures. He left Canada for a seven-year period to work in Saudi Arabia, Australia and Saipan only returning to give his family more stability.

He had a brilliant inquisitive mind which in the last few years was eroded away by the effects of dementia. He loved his family including the four-legged members and cherished time spent with them. As the disease progressed Krzysztof spent much time walking the dogs to the point where when the leashes were brought out for the dogs to go on yet another walk, they would hide.
He loved the outdoors, fishing, hiking, swimming, mushroom collecting and relaxing in the warmth of the sun. Food…. large quantities… brought Krzysztof much pleasure. He was able to consume seemingly limitless amounts of carbohydrates typically in the form of cake or his beloved potatoes and not gain an ounce.

In October of last year, as the Canada geese were flying south for the winter, Krzysztof drew his last breath surrounded by his family. A full life lived a soul finally free of the indignities of the disease.

The poem was inspired by this scene and written by Nina Rizzo

Gone away with the geese up in a cloud
Looking down at Lac Lacaille,
Our cottage
Camping at Gould lake
Fishing for pike and bass on a short break
Collecting mushrooms, walking the dogs
Canoeing up rivers and smelling the grass
Free like the geese in my Canadian sky
Sending love to my family as I fly soaring on high.

Zofia, Martin, Mark (Jess), Artur (Ada), Jenny.

Krzysztof’s body was donated to the University of Ottawa Anatomy program.
If you would like to make a donation in Krzysztof’s memory to a charity, please consider the Dementia Society, Humane Society or any other charity dear to your heart.

Family and friends are invited to Beechwood, Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services (280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa, ON) on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at 12 noon for a Tree Dedication followed by a Reception from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.