Leokadia Kozlowski
Leokadia “Lola” Kozlowski, 95, of Washington, died on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, in Transitions Healthcare.
She was born on January 1, 1927, in Derewno, Poland, a daughter of the late Joseph and Josephine Sielicki.
Lola was taken from her home in Poland, by the Germans, in cattle cars, to a forced labor camp, when she was only 16. Some of what was expected of her was manufacturing gas tanks for airplanes, digging trenches on the front lines and being a personal servant to the top German generals. Edward Kozlowski was an American soldier who had the ability to speak Polish. He was a guard at one of the rescue camps when he first met Lola. On March 19, 1946, in Austria, when she was 19, she married Edward, and as a Polish war bride, traveled to the United States by boat, then moved to Pittsburgh with his family. She didn’t speak any English.
Along with her husband, Lola owned and operated Ed’s Grocery Store on Goat Hill for 28 years, and then owned and operated Lola’s Laundromat.
She was a member of St. Hilary Roman Catholic Church, where she volunteered, and was very involved with many church activities. She was also a member of the Christian Mothers.
Her husband, Edward, died on August 22, 2015.
Surviving are two sons, Thomas Kozlowski, of the Villages, Fla. and Kevin (Victoria) Kozlowski, of Washington; a daughter, Christine Primm, of Newark, Ohio; three grandchildren, Jason (Stacey) Kozlowski, of Pittsburgh, Cathy (David) Stansbury, of Newark, Ohio, Kory Kozlowski and Kyle Kozlowski, of Pittsburgh; great-grandchildren, Alex and Joshua James, Catie Stansbury, Nichole Stern, and Hayden Kozlowski; and a great-great-grandchild, Everyleigh James.
Deceased are two brothers.
Friends and family will be received from 10 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, in William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 13, 2022. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Gardens.
Guestbook available at NealFuneralHome.com