Obituary of Jolanta Alicja Kurz

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Jolanta Kurz, daughter of the late Zofia and Janusz Szyszko, on Wednesday, 27 May, 2020, at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton. Jola left us peacefully after a lengthy illness, while comforted by a good friend. Regrettably the COVID-19 pandemic kept her family from being at her side during final hours. She was 69 years old. Jola is survived by her husband Bernd Kurz, children Monica Kurz (Darcy) and Michael Kurz, and by her sister Barbara Slapinska (Tadeusz). Jola was born in Wolomin, Poland, and moved to Canada in 1980 as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Biology Department at the University of New Brunswick. Here she met her husband Bernd and they were married in 1983. After her research work at UNB, Jola changed her career path and put all of her heart into her business offering massage therapy and acupuncture services to the community until the late stages of her illness. Jola enjoyed travelling. After her doctoral studies in Warsaw, she hitch-hiked with friends in Europe from North to South. After her marriage to Bernd, this joy of travelling continued and they travelled widely throughout North and South America, Europe, and around the World, often taking the kids along. They explored many of the Caribbean islands during the cold Canadian winters. The last family journeys saw her driving the Demster Highway from the Yukon to the North West Territories, dipping her ankles in the Arctic Ocean, and visiting the beaches of Bermuda. Jola was an enthusiastic skier, biker, runner and hiker; a true outdoor person. She organized many hiking and biking trips on New Brunswick's trails with close friends year after year. Jola will be greatly missed by her family and friends in Canada, Europe and USA. Jola was a beloved member of the local Polish community. She was paramount in the organization of many festive events for Polish and Canadian friends from all over New Brunswick. She received endless support from this group of friends and others during her illness. Due to the pandemic there will be no visitation or funeral services at this time. A celebration of her life is planned for a time when normalcy of life is restored. Instead of flowers, donations to Ovarian Cancer Canada (https://ovariancanada.org) are appreciated.