Franciszek, Geowefa, Janina Warelis

Alumni Type: Immigrant
Country of Origin: Poland
Ship Name: SS United States
Port of Entry: Halifax
Date of Arrival: July 13, 1929

Franciczek (Frank) Warelis was born June 10, 1899 to Wincenty and Ewy (nee Kurdrielow) Warelis in Natalyn, Annopol, Poland. His family later made their home in Crzednik (Krasnik), Poland. Frank served in the Polish army during World War .

Genowefa (Jean) Bochynska was born March 1, 1906 to Pawel and Tekla (nee Zarzykich) Bochynska in Weshcziczach, Poland.

Jean and Frank were married on August 30, 1927. In 1928 they were blessed with a daughter Janina (Joan). They continued to farm for another year until after Frank’s father Wincenty had travelled to North America and found that Canada was both accepting and promising a good future for immigrants. They packed up their personal belongings, some tools and their baby and bid farewell to their homeland. Their sea voyage on the S.S. United States brought them to Halifax on July 13, 1929. From there they travelled with the Canadian National Railway to Manitoba. They first settled on NW 34-28-21 W1 in the Ukraina area where they farmed for four years. Here they met both joy and sorrow. They were blessed with a son Mitishwaf (Matt) and lost a son at birth. The challenge of establishing a farm in the new country turned to being a hardship forcing them to leave their land and travel to Kamsack, Saskatchewan where they worked as farm labourers for two years.

In 1934 they returned to the Ukraina area and secured a parcel of land on NE 27-28-21W1M. Through struggle and perseverance they established their farm. Their third child, Sophie was born to them in 1936. Their children all attended Taras School and the family was also active in functions at the Taras Hall. Their first car, a 1932 Model B Ford was purchased in 1944 for $450.00. During harvest time of that same year their farm was the scene of a peculiar event that drew many neighbouring families to venture over to see an army training plane which had run out of fuel and was forced to land on their farm. The Warelis family first enjoyed the convenience of hydro electricity in 1954.

Frank and Jean retired from farming in November, 1956 and moved to the village of Ethelbert. Frank continued to work for the community pasture and at logging operations in the Duck Mountains for a few years following. They both were active members and workers in the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church at Ethelbert. Their home was always open to family and friends and was the hub of activity at Christmas and Easter when members of their family of three children, sixteen grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren met.