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Judju's eulogy, written and spoken by my cousin Natasha: We are here to celebrate the life of Stefan Przesmycki, our father, grandfather and great grandfather. Born on the 4th August 1909, in Lutch, Poland. He had 3 brothers and 1 sister, he the forth son of Julian and Rozalia. I just want to speak about one moment when he came home from the Army aged 21. He came home one evening with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, and copped a smack to the mouth from his father. But most of the things he told us were all happy memories. His father passed away in 1938. War broke out in 1939, which changed everyone's lives. In 1940 he was taken to the labour camps, without even the chance to say goodbye to his family. He didn't like talking of the war times, and the atrocities that were committed against his fellow men. He never had an ill word about anyone, and would only comment about the good times. He met Julia in 1940 in the Labour camps, when they were later married in a school by Father Boleslaw. They went through the war together and decided to immigrate to Australia on March the 8th with their 2 son's Boleslaw, 6 years and Stefan 2 years of age. He met Pop Maresko and became good friends, and decided to settle in Crib Point, where they bought a home in Pearce Street. His wife Julia wanted a daughter. There was a priest from Don Bosko oprhanage in Brunswick, Farther Krosotski, who used to visit and stay quite often. This was when he suggested they adopt a girl. He made all the arrangements for them to choose a baby girl. 6 weeks later they brought home a beautiful baby girl, Suzie. For years to come he worked hard to rear and educate the family, who have all done well with his guidance. In 1956 there was a credit squeeze they lost their jobs in Cerberus, so himself and Pop Maresko got jobs as cooks - kitchen hands at the Isle of White Hotel on Philip Island. Pop lasted a week and didn't like it, Stefan lasted 2 weeks. The family then moved to Melbourne and managed the Polish House. They didn't enjoy the city life and moved back to Crib Point, and was re-employed at Cerberus where he worked till he retired. When he retired he looked after the grandchildren where in turn they cared for him. He had 8 grandchildren who he cared for at one time or another. Then when the great grandchildren came along he cared for them too, never complaining. In the later years when Julia got ill with arthritis, he would do everything for her, right up until when he passed away. He was a very devoted husband. I'd just like to say a few humourous words on behalf of the grandchildren. One of these memories were when Julian and Matthew used to sit him in his chair and spend 4-5 hours with him at Mr Eliza rehab, but he hated being there, so one day he was asked why do you hate being here, and his remark was that they have stuck me in here with these old buggers, and he was the oldest one there. Shaneen remembers how she would go to his place Sundays after Mass, she would sit in her grandfather's chair with his hat on, the only one being allowed to touch his hat. Stefan remembers when there was a very small snake in the back yard, which Lyn killed and chopped up into very small pieces, which Judju burried. Nana made Judju dig it up and hang it on the fence, as the peices were so small he attached them to a wire and hung them on the fence. Julie remembers Judju never carried a lot of money, he went for a walk and came across a garage sale where he brought her a toaster and a potato masher for a dollar, when he brought it home he plugged in the toaster and it went off with a bang, to this day Julie still uses the potato masher. I myself have many memories one of those being when Judju used to walk me to kinda everyday, and then wait at the gates every afternoon for me. Once our family moved back to Frankston many years later, Nana and Judju used to love me bringing them McDonalds and fried dim sims every Saturday afternoon. Since early April of this year two of his great grandchildren have been blessed to spend some time with him, Bobby and Peniana. Not many have great grandchildren get the chance to have time with their great grand father and to feel the love our Judju projected. A few months passed and he started to deteriate but never once complained right to the end. As a family god blessed us to have such a wonderful father, grand father and great grand father for all these years. Now after a long eventful life he has closed his eyes and gone to God. He may be gone now but he is always in our hearts. Thankyou and God bless you Judju. Kocham was Judju. |
