Janka Janina STYKOLT

SEYDEGART, Janina August 3, 1920 - July 30, 2008 Janka (Janina) Seydegart died on July 30, 2008 in Ottawa with her daughters by her side. She lived a life of integrity, commitment and honour. Janina was born in Zgierz, Poland to Henriette and Hilary Stykolt. Growing up, her dearest friend was her beloved brother Stefan. After World War II, she married Stanislaw Seydegart, her life partner for 58 years. The couple had two cherished children, Kasia and Magda, and built an interesting life in Toronto and Muskoka. Janina attended Toronto and Columbia universities. She worked for many years as a social worker with the Children's Aid Society of Metropolitan Toronto, and served as a Field Instructor for the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto in the 1960s and 70s. She was a passionate advocate for social justice for women, and for the love, development and protection of children. Janka was active in the National Action Committee for the Status of Women and the YWCA and was a founder of the Feminist Party of Canada. She is survived by her loving daughters Kasia Seydegart (George Spears) and Magda Seydegart (Ted Jackson) and her beloved grandchildren Stefan, Sarah, Noah, Ben and Jacob. She will be missed by her loyal friends and by all the people who had the opportunity to know her dignity, elegance and wisdom. Memorial services celebrating her life will be held at Beechwood Cemetery Reception Centre in Ottawa on Thursday August 14 at 2 p.m. for her Ottawa family and friends, and at Hart House (Music Room), University of Toronto on Saturday, September 13 at 11 a.m. for her Toronto friends and family. The family is deeply grateful for the exceptional care Janka received from each and every member of the Elizabeth Bruyere Palliative Care team and from her other angels Susan, Grace, Mercy and Marietta. Donations could be made to The Janka Seydegart Scholarship in Feminist Studies at the University of Toronto. Published in the Ottawa Citizen on 8/2/2008