Viola Kalandyk Sowinski, World War II veteran, previous proprietor of the Kalan Hosiery Shop and the Central Fish Market in Albany, former employee at the Albany County Courthouse, Albany City Board of Education, and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.
Otherwise known as my Aunt Viola.
One of my favorite relatives, Aunt Vi was an incredible woman. Hearing the sad news of her passing, my husband and I were sharing words that best described her. Gracious, kind, classy, stylish, charming, funny, adventurous, world traveler, honorable, intelligent, caring, sweet, loving. She had a fascination with languages, studying Russian, Spanish, Italian and German and in her later years learning…Chinese!
My aunt and cousins kindly took us under their wing when my parents passed away. We had the privilege of spending several holidays with them and loved to listen to their travel stories. Visiting England, Scotland, France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Italy, China, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Poland and many states in the USA, she was my “aunt most traveled.” It always amazed me to see the pictures of her early years serving in the 8th Air Force based in High Wycombe, England under the command of General James Doolittle. An amazing woman who was ahead of her time. She portrayed a beautiful blend of old world gentleness, femininity and true bravado. I will cherish our last Christmas together, remembering how she patiently helped us learn the correct pronounciation and meaning of several Polish words and phrases.
Aunt Viola’s spirit lives on in her children, Valerie, Barbara and Chester. They orchestrated a beautiful funeral and gravesite service for their mother that truly honored her life, complete with Air Force military escorts in full dress blues and ending with the soulful sounds of the bugler playing Taps. My cousins follow in their mother’s footsteps, all having excellent careers, well-traveled, close knit, caring for each other and others along their daily path. My dear Aunt Viola, how we will miss you but you are and always will be a part of us.
