Obituary of Elizabeth (Elzbieta) Kwasniewski M.A., CCC

Passed away suddenly, without a whisper of a word of goodbye to those dear and near to her heart. Beloved wife of the late Tadeusz Kwaśniewski, Elżbieta leaves in mourning her sister Ewa Grużewska in Poland, brother-in-law Ryszard Kwaśniewski, sister-in-law Maria Kwaśniewska, and a bereaved close-knit circle of friends.

Elżbieta earned her M.A. in English Philology from the University of Warsaw. She emigrated to Canada with her husband in 1982. While settling in Montreal, she worked for CBC- Radio Canada International as a producer, researcher and a free-lance journalist 1983- 1989. Soon after she moved to Ottawa. There, she worked as a special assistant to a Member of Parliament and later as an advisor to the Secretary of State [Africa, Latin America and Asia Pacific] during the 1990s. In the years that followed, Elżbieta undertook the challenge of reinventing her professional life. She obtained a Master’s Degree in Individual Counselling with a designation of a Registered Psychotherapist (M.A., CCC) and went on to operate a successful private counselling practice until her recent retirement.

Though delicate in stature, Elżbieta was grand, bold and daring in spirit. She was a free soul with an insatiable curiosity about the world’s beauty and its mysteries. Her travels took her from the frozen expanse of Alaska to the Andes and the Himalayas, from the rugged shores of Newfoundland to the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand. No obstacle could deter her as she pursued her wanderlust, drawing inspiration from the wonders of nature and curiosity arising from her lovingly open soul.

She also tenderly harboured a love for animals in the feline companions she adopted who were fortunate to experience the abundant love and care she overflowed. Elżbieta will be remembered for her kind and adventurous spirit, her intellectual curiosity, and the warmth she extended to all who were fortunate enough to know her.

A Memorial Service for Elizabeth will take place at Cole Funeral Services (Pinecrest Cemetery) 2500 Baseline Rd., Ottawa, Ont. Saturday, January 18, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ottawa Humane Society or Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.