Janina Baranowski (nee Machj)

Janina Baranowski (nee Machj), age 94, of Schererville, Indiana passed away October 10, 2019. She is survived by her son George (Debra) Baranowski; grandchildren: Brett, Kristy (Jantz) Vega and Bryan; great-grandchildren: Vincent and Trevor Vega and was preceded in death by her husband Mieczyslaw and children Joseph and Jeanette.

She was born in Warsaw, Poland on October 5, 1925 to Jan and Waleria Machay. Janina was one of five children, and the only one to immigrate to the United States. In 1944, in the middle of WWII Janina joined the underground movement and was a soldier in the Army of Kraiowei AK. Later that year, the resistance had mounted a campaign against the Germans, but after 63 days they were ordered by their commander General Bor-Komorowski to surrender and lay down their arms.

The Germans took them into captivity and started marching them to Ozarowa, a military camp. From there they were loaded on a freight train and transported to the Falin-Boster prisoner of war camp. Janina was transferred twice during her 8 month imprisonment, from Falin-Boster to Bergen-Belsen, and then to Oberlangen. After 8 months of imprisonment the British Army liberated Oberlangen and freed the POWs.

Janina met her future husband Mieczyslaw as part of the liberating forces. He was a Polish soldier and member of the British forces. They married and relocated to England shortly after the war's end. In 1952 after 7 years in England, Janina and Mieczyslaw had their chance to immigrate to the USA, in the Chicagoland area where both became U.S. citizens. They started their new life on the South Side of Chicago, eventually moving to East Chicago, Hammond, and finally Schererville, Indiana where she resided with her son's family.

Janine worked as a head baker for St. Margaret Hospital in Hammond for over 20 years. She was a proud member and director of the Pulaski Club, Vice President and delegate for PAC of Indiana, Recording Secretary of Post 40 Women's Auxiliary and a member of Club Syrena and Club SPARK, and active in the Dyer/Schererville Township.

Family and friends will celebrate her life on Monday, October 14, 2019 at Castle Hill Funeral Home: 1219 Sheffield Avenue, Dyer, Indiana 46311 with a visitation from 5-7 p.m. and a service officiated by Rev. Charles Niblick at 6:00 p.m. 

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