ZAWIERCIE, POLAND – Jadwiga Regina Arczewska, 72, passed away peacefully at her home in Zawiercie, Poland on Jan. 30, 2022 after a short battle with cancer.

Jadwiga was born in Drawno, Poland on Feb. 28, 1949, daughter of Jozef and Scholastyka (Kujalowicz) Szalkowski. She grew up in Poland and attended Liceum Ogolnoksztalcace high school in Kaliszu Pomorskim, Poland graduating in the class of 1967.

She immigrated to the United States with her family in 1983 during the Solidarity Movement in Poland. She, her family and other Polish immigrant families were relocated to Skowhegan, Maine with host families.

In the United States she learned English and began working at the New Balance Factory in Skowhegan. She was then able to use her excellent culinary skills when she and her family opened their own restaurant business “Skowhegan Village Pizza” which she operated until she retired and returned to Zawiercie in 2008.

Jadwiga proudly became a citizen of the United States on Nov. 14, 1997.

Jadwiga was a loving mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister, aunt, daughter and friend. She had a warm, caring spirit and a wonderful sense of humor that will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

She enjoyed gardening, cooking and dancing.

She was predeceased by her parents Jozef and Scholastyka Szalkowski; her brother Krzysztof Szalkowski; and her son Artur Arczewski.

She is survived by her daughter-in-law Melinda “Mindy” Arczewski; her granddaughter Kataryna Arczewski of Alfred, Maine; and her significant other, Jan Oracz of Poland.

Funeral services are private and were arranged in Poland.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Jadwiga’s name to Stop Soldier Suicide