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Mary Kropidlowski

Mary Kropidlowski, 83, Stevens Point, a former Almond area resident and survivor of a forced labor camp during World War II, died Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010, at Stevens Point Care Center in Whiting.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. James Catholic Church in Amherst, with the Rev. Robert Pedretti presiding. Burial will be in St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery in the town of Lanark.

Visitation will be at Jungers-Holly Funeral Home in Amherst from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday and at the church from 9 a.m. Tuesday until the Mass. A general rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Condolences may be offered online at www.hollyfuneralhome.com.

Mrs. Kropidlowski was born Oct. 25, 1926, in Poddebowiecz, Poland, a daughter of the late Jan and Stella (Adamczyk) Bryla. When she was 14 years old, she was sent to a forced labor camp in Germany. For four years, she endured the hardship and deprivation of the labor camp until liberated in 1945. While staying in a town in Germany for displaced persons, she met her future husband.

She was married to Bernie Kropidlowski on Nov. 6, 1948, in Poland. He died Aug. 31, 1997.

They made their home on a farm in Almond. They worked the farm and raised their 12 children.

She became known throughout the area for talking at schools and other functions about her experiences during World War II.

Survivors include four sons, Anthony (Linda), Phoenix, Ariz., Thomas (Bernie), Neenah, and Paul (Rita) and Roman, both of Amherst; eight daughters, Bernice (Thomas) Jerzak, Bancroft, Hedwig (William) Lettau, Kaukauna, Barbara (Robert) Schratz, Phoenix, Ariz., Theresa (William) Misiewicz, Elizabeth, Colo., Angela (Douglas) Thurber, Combined Locks, Lucy (Kevin) Loomis, South Milwaukee, and Sophie (Russell) Glodowski, Amherst; four brothers, Stanley Bryla, Stefan (Bernice) Bryla, Henry (Hedwig) Bryla and Mickey (Vera) Bryla, all of Poland; one sister, Jane (Henry) Bochinski, Poland; 24 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

She was also preceded in death by one son, Henry; and one infant sister, Rose.



	Mary Kropidlowski Mary Kropidlowski, 83, Stevens Point, a former Almond area resident and survivor of a forced labor camp during World War II, died Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010, at Stevens Point Care Center in Whiting. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. James Catholic Church in Amherst, with the Rev. Robert Pedretti presiding. Burial will be in St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery in the town of Lanark. Visitation will be at Jungers-Holly Funeral Home in Amherst from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday and at the church from 9 a.m. Tuesday until the Mass. A general rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Condolences may be offered online at www.hollyfuneralhome.com. Mrs. Kropidlowski was born Oct. 25, 1926, in Poddebowiecz, Poland, a daughter of the late Jan and Stella (Adamczyk) Bryla. When she was 14 years old, she was sent to a forced labor camp in Germany. For four years, she endured the hardship and deprivation of the labor camp until liberated in 1945. While staying in a town in Germany for displaced persons, she met her future husband. She was married to Bernie Kropidlowski on Nov. 6, 1948, in Poland. He died Aug. 31, 1997. They made their home on a farm in Almond. They worked the farm and raised their 12 children. She became known throughout the area for talking at schools and other functions about her experiences during World War II. Survivors include four sons, Anthony (Linda), Phoenix, Ariz., Thomas (Bernie), Neenah, and Paul (Rita) and Roman, both of Amherst; eight daughters, Bernice (Thomas) Jerzak, Bancroft, Hedwig (William) Lettau, Kaukauna, Barbara (Robert) Schratz, Phoenix, Ariz., Theresa (William) Misiewicz, Elizabeth, Colo., Angela (Douglas) Thurber, Combined Locks, Lucy (Kevin) Loomis, South Milwaukee, and Sophie (Russell) Glodowski, Amherst; four brothers, Stanley Bryla, Stefan (Bernice) Bryla, Henry (Hedwig) Bryla and Mickey (Vera) Bryla, all of Poland; one sister, Jane (Henry) Bochinski, Poland; 24 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by one son, Henry; and one infant sister, Rose.