Our loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, W. Janina Konwinska passed away on March 16, 2017. She was born in Siennica, Poland, about 35 miles east of Warsaw. Her 17th birthday, September 3, 1939, coincided with the invasion of her beloved country and the start of WWII. Within two weeks the invading forces had destroyed over 80% of her hometown, Siennica. With a number of narrow escapes, Janina managed to survive, not only the German forces, but also later the Russian. She married in 1944 and raised her family during the difficult Communist years. In 1975 after being widowed, she followed her eldest son to the United States, but tried to spend time in her beloved Poland each year.She was predeceased in death by her parents Wladyslaw and Justyna Gawlowski, her brother Romuald Gawlowski, and her loving husband Franciszek Konwinski, all of Poland. She is survived by her oldest son, Dr. Martin Konwinski (Joyce) of Hockessin, DE, her youngest son Jan Konwinski (Hanna) of Warsaw, Poland, her grandchildren, Monika (Daniel) of Los Angeles, Marta (Jakub) of Warsaw and Stefan of Philadelphia. She is also survived by her cherished great-grandchildren, Fiona and Liam, who always brought a smile to her face.The family would like to thank the caregivers at Brandywine Nursing Home and close friends, Ted and Wanda Brzozka for their unstinting kindness during Janina's last few years.A funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 23, 2017 at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 2503 Centerville Road, Wilmington, DE. Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m., with with a Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 12 p.m. (noon). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children at www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org. Online condolences may be made at mealeyfuneralhomes.com.