Halina Maria Solohub passed away peacefully on December 1, 2019, her only surviving son by her side. First daughter of Antoni and Anna was born on July 9, 1926 in Kobryn Poland. As a young girl, Halina’s life was nothing if not challenging. She witnessed the German invasion of Poland, and the Russian invasion two weeks later. Halina suffered through the confiscation of her home by the Russians and the subsequent “voluntary resettlement” of her family to Siberia. She never saw her home again. Her father died two months before amnesty was declared and the Poles were allowed to leave Russia.
They journeyed through Persia, India, Africa, and finally made their way to the United Kingdom. Halina, not yet 16, enlisted in the RAF. Halina then attended a Polish boarding school in Scotland called the Dunalaster House. Halina met the love of her life, Janek Solohub, in Northwick Park, and married in 1951, they remained together for 50 years until Janek’s passing in 2001. Halina and Janek remained in the UK long enough to have two children: Stanley in 1953 (deceased 2003), and Roman in 1957.
The family immigrated to the U.S. on the grand ship, The Queen Elizabeth, and settled in Chicago until her move to Georgia to be near her son, Roman and his family. While in Chicago, Halina and Janek enjoyed being active members of the Polish Organizations, the SPK and the Polish National Alliance where they developed lifelong friendships.
Halina loved to cook and was expert at preparing authentic Polish meals, especially kotlekty (her grandson Ryan’s favorite), golombki, and galareta. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and mother in law to her family, providing them with unconditional love.
Anyone who now describes Halina always begins with “she was a sweet lady”. She will be missed by many and will never be forgotten. She is survived by her son, Roman T Solohub, daughter in law, Jennifer S. Solohub, grandchildren Ryan (wife Alyson) Solohub, Christina (Solohub) Pritz (husband Billy), great grandchildren William Roman Pritz, and Austin Kate Pritz, and sister Maria Antonina Miloszewska.
Memorial visitation Saturday, January 25, 2020 from 9:00 am until time of service at 11:30 a.m. at COLONIAL-WOJCIECHOWSKI FUNERAL HOME 6250 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Interment will follow at Maryhill Cemetery in Niles. Info 773-774-0366
