Janina Matuska

Born in Zawoja, Poland, Jasia carried a deep love for her homeland throughout her life. She often spoke fondly of her childhood among the mountains, and she held tightly to the Polish traditions, language, and faith that shaped her. In 1986, she came to the United States in search of a better life for her children. She spent most of her years in New York City before eventually settling in Florida, building a life rooted in family, faith, and love.

Faith was the center of Jasia’s life. A devout Catholic, she prayed daily, often multiple times a day, and attended church several times a week for as long as her health allowed. Her rosaries were a constant companion, especially one she brought home from Medjugorje. She prayed with it so faithfully over the years that the wooden beads were worn smooth from her touch, a quiet testament to the devotion that guided her life.

Her home reflected the faith she carried in her heart, filled with figurines of the Virgin Mary and angels, along with religious pictures and paintings that surrounded her in the everyday moments of life. She held a special devotion to the Blessed Mother and Padre Pio, and her faith brought her to many sacred places around the world.

Among her most cherished journeys were pilgrimages to Częstochowa, Medjugorje, and Fátima. Places she which returned to and loved deeply. She also traveled to the Holy Land, Rome, Jordan, and Spain. Her faith was more than a tradition; it was her constant companion, a source of comfort, strength, and hope throughout her life.

Jasia expressed her love through the simple, thoughtful things she did for others. She was kind, humble, and always willing to lend a helping hand. She had a stubborn streak of her own, but beneath it was a generous heart that never hesitated to give. For her family, love often meant making sure no one ever went hungry. Even when her grandchildren insisted they were full, Jasia would find a way to offer them just a little more.

She also had a special way of sharing her faith with those she loved, often bringing her grandchildren prayer cards and rosaries. These small gifts were an extension of who she was and what mattered most to her: her family, her faith, and the hope that those she loved would always be watched over and protected.

Beyond her devotion to family and faith, Jasia found happiness in traveling and spending time at the beach. She loved collecting seashells and searching for sand dollars, which she delighted in giving to her grandchildren. Each little treasure was a gift from the heart, a simple way of sharing something beautiful with the people she loved.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Mieczysław, who passed away in 1977, and her second husband, Stefan, whose music she loved. She also endured the heartbreaking loss of three of her children, including her son Zbyszek, who died at the age of 21, and two children who passed away at a young age.

Jasia is survived by her children, Bożena and Maciej; her grandchildren, Jarek, Marzena, Szymon, Michael, and Martin; and her great-grandchildren, Silas, Ruby, and Maeve, who will carry her memory forward.

Though she has left this world, the things that defined Jasia remain with those who knew and loved her: her unwavering faith, her generosity, her Polish traditions, her quiet strength, and the countless ways she made her family feel cared for. Her memory will live on in the prayers she taught, the rosaries and prayer cards she shared, and the sand dollars she placed into the hands of her grandchildren.

A Visitation followed by a Catholic Service will take place at National Cremation Society, 4945 E. Bay Dr, Clearwater, FL, on October 21 beginning at 10AM.

May she rest in the loving arms of the Blessed Mother she so deeply cherished, and may she find eternal peace in the presence of the Lord she faithfully served throughout her life.