Early on Christmas Eve, morning, we got a call from the staff of Kirby Pines Retirement Estates.  The staff members wanted us to know that they were unable to awaken "Mr. B" to get him ready for breakfast.  We needed to get over there quickly if we wanted to see him before he was gone.

That is not the way you want to get your early start to the Christmas Holidays.  Zofia and I rushed over there and found him just as they had that morning.  We waited and watched until he finally breathed his last as I and a couple of nurses looked on at 12:20 pm.  Bronisław never woke up that morning.  He slept away the last hours of his life.  His life ended very peacefully, and thankfully without any of the pains that had plagued him during other periods of his life. 

There was the pains of hunger when he was hiding out in the underground during the German Occupation. There was, I'm sure, a lot of pain involved when he was working in the German Labor Camp during WWII.  We all know the pain of all-nighters in college cramming for that final exam.  Then, there is the pain of heart-break, when a loved one dies, or your love is spurned by another.  But, real physical pain was to come to Bronisław after an automobile accident left him with spinal injuries that never healed properly after surgery.  Then to pile more insult over injury, his body started producing too much calcium in the form of spinal stenosis which puts pressure on nerves and causes pain and numbness at the same time.

In his later years his pains increased, but he kept himself busy studying and reading even as the pains in his body grew stronger and insurmountable.  The last few months of his life he was living on pain medication to keep the pain at bay even while his weak body kept him confined to his bed, and grew so bad that in the last week, he was on morphine to be able to stand the pain.

But, today, he has no pain, for he has a brand new body.  One that is perfect in every detail and one that has absolutely no pain.  Bronisław is with his Lord.  He is in paradise.

One year ago, we thought he was on his way out.  His kidneys were failing, and he was very weak.  But, then, he decided he had one more project to complete.  He wanted to publish a book of his essays and papers that he had published during his career.  The renewed excitement and determination gave him the strength to put aside his frailties while he worked on his book.

Two weeks ago, the publisher delivered his book to him.  The finished product.  Bronisław looked at it and said, "It is done.  I can die now."  Those around him didn't realize how literally he meant that.  He had a full life, he accomplished much and he did what he set out to do.  Now he is reaping his rewards.

We will celebrate the life of Bronisław Wojtun on Wednesday Evening December 29th at St. John Catholic Church on Lamar Ave. 

• 6:30pm Rosary
• 7:00pm. Memorial Mass

His last journey will be to Doylestown, Pennsylvania where he will be laid to rest at the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa cemetery.

Photos of Funeral
Photos at Cemetery