Jolanta. Jola.
A splash of colour both literally and figuratively, whose draped scarf left her perfume hanging in the air as a welcome note.
A wife of 47 years, who to her husband was his North, South, East and West. She held and set the compass and – as with all good marriages – provided direction and guidance throughout, adapting quickly to every change that life threw at them.
Mother to Susy and Alex, Mum worked tirelessly, selflessly and diligently throughout their childhoods to provide everything possible to prepare them for adulthood.
Grandmother to Matilda, Daniel and Joseph, Babcia’s specialist subject was princesses but she had a rapidly-expanding knowledge of the Marvel superhero universe and Thomas and the other trains, amongst others. She revelled in the children’s boundless energy and found peace in their cuddles.
Her youth focussed around music. Jola was an accomplished pianist who studied at the Conservatoire in Warsaw. She ensured that her house was filled with music, that both her children found their own love of music and only a few weeks ago was working with Matilda on her first piano piece.
For love, Jola gave up her university studies and all that was familiar and, in 1971, left Poland to move to the UK, long before mobile phones, Skype, or Ryanair made such things trivial. Once the shock of her new reality had worn off she felt determined to make her mark, regardless of cultural barriers. This determination underpinned the woman she became. Her Polish roots were always there just under the surface, and her propensity to think (and swear) in Polish – particularly when tired – was a familiar comfort to those close to her.
Not one to do things by halves, in 1980, with 2 children under 7 years old and holding down a job, she went back to university. She graduated with a degree in Psychology & Anthropology from Goldsmith’s College, and started working in adult mental health care supporting some of the most vulnerable members of the community. By the time she retired over 25 years later, she was responsible for all mental health care services across the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.
Jola was not a stranger to challenges and adversity, and strongly believed in supporting those in need to be survivors of their circumstances, rather than perpetuating any victimhood. She was utterly passionate that it’s up to each of us to fight for what we want and believe in. Anybody who knew her professionally knew her drive as she fought to change the community she lived in for the better.
Most people view their retirement as an opportunity to wind down and relax. Not Jola. Her life was busy in a way few people can comprehend. Maybe those with PAs and executive support teams… of which Jola had neither. The focus of her life was service to others, even the day before she died.
Jolanta loved to read, and for those places she read about she had a strong desire to experience them first hand. This love of travel took her and Lars across the world, from Gambia to the Galapagos, from The Maldives to Malta, or from Poland to Portugal. Her stories from those far flung places were always alive with intricate details of her interactions with locals – whether people or wildlife – that no guidebook would ever capture.
She will undoubtedly be missed by all. By her immediate family of course; by those she worked with and for; by those random people with whom she formed connections as no other person could.
Farewell Jolanta Maria.