Yanchak, Josephine (Kilian)
Josephine “Jo” (Kilian) Yanchak, 85, beloved wife for 67 years of the late Walter Yanchak, of West Hartland, CT, died peacefully on January 3, 2023. She was born in Lwow, Poland, daughter of the late Michal and Anna (Choroszy) Kilian on May 4, 1937.
During WWII, at age 3, Josephine and her entire family were forcibly removed from their home in Lwow by the invading Russian Army. They were transported in cattle cars to labor camps in Siberia, barely surviving starvation and exhaustion. In 1942, General Anders of the Polish Army, came to an agreement with Stalin to allow the evacuation of Poles from the labor camps after Germany invaded Russia. Josephine and her family made the journey to a refugee camp in Iran. Soon after arriving in Iran Josephine's mother died, leaving her in the care of her older siblings. Her father and oldest brother, Stanislaw, joined the Polish Army under the command of the Allied Forces. Josephine and her siblings were then sent to an orphanage in India. At the end of the war they were reunited with their father in England. The family then emigrated to the United States, settling in New Britain, CT.
In 1955, she married Walter Yanchak and resided in New Britain. In 1959, they built and moved into their new home in West Hartland. There they raised their two daughters, Joy and Joan. Josephine made the long daily commute from West Hartland to work at Fafnir Bearing in New Britain for over 40 years. While employed at Fafnir Bearing, she attained her Associate Degree in Labor Relations. Josephine was a strong and vocal advocate for employee rights. She was president of UAW Local #133 for numerous years while employed at Fafnir. During her tenure as president of UAW Local #133, she provided testimony at the House of Representative Congressional Hearing of Children, Youth and Families, citing injustice and inequality of employee rights impacting family care.
Through the years Josephine and Walter enjoyed hosting family picnics with the entire Kilian and Yanchak families along with many close friends. Josephine loved music and was a member of the Paderewski Choir of New Britain. She also enjoyed spending time outdoors on local walking paths.
Josephine is survived by her two daughters; Joan (Greg) Makowski of West Hartland and Joy (Wieslaw) Chlus of Wethersfield. She was the proud “Babcia” of six grandchildren; Bethany Makowski, Jeffrey Makowski, Teresa Chlus, Adam Chlus, Marta Chlus and Sabina Chlus. She also leaves her sister-in-law Ann (Zbigniew) Kilian and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers Stanislaw, Wladyslaw, and Zbigniew Kilian and sisters Michalina Sokolowska, Julia Wiszniak, and Janina Patykowski.
Friends may call on Monday, January 9, 2023, at the Montana-Shea Funeral Home, 5 Steele Road, New Hartford from 9 AM. 11 AM followed by a Mass of Christian burial at Our Lady of Hope, 3 Church Street, New Hartford at 11:30 AM. Burial will be held in the spring at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in New Hartford. Visit an online guestbook at montano-shea. com.