Oczkowski, Oczkowska, and Sanetra sisters- Żywiec, Bielsko, Poland

Adam Sanetra was the youngest of seven children. Here's Adam's siblings and their spouses with the Oczkowska   connections (and a Klosak):
Children of Jozef Sanetra and Franciska Gowin
1. Karol Sanetra- born and died Jan 1865
2. Ludwig Jozef Sanetra- born and died Mar 1866
3. Maria Sanetra born 1867. Married Maciej Caputa 1888. Maciej born 1842. Maria and Maciej's daughter Elzbieta Caputa married Jozef Oczkowska 1911 Żywiec-Zabłocie, Bielsko, Poland. Jozef born 1886, son of Jakub Oczkowska and Marianna Dendys. Maria Sanetra's second marriage to Wojciech Gielata in 1917. Wojciech born 1865.
4. Apolonia Sanetra born 1872. Married Jozef Klosak 1894. Jozef born 1862. Second marriage to Jozef Oczkowski in 1905. Jozef born 1882.
5. Katarzyna Sanetra born 1873. Married Jozef Kozka 1898. Jozef born 1874.
6. Helena Sanetra born 1875. (not sure if married or immigrated)
*7. Adam Sanetra born 1876. Married Rosalie Wandzel 1900. Second marriage to Alfreda Mazukiewicz 1920.

 1894-Klosak, Jozef-Aplonia Sanetra marriage

1905-Oczkowski, Jozef-Apolonia Sanetra mar

1911-Oczkowska, Jozef-Caputa, Elzbieta Caputa mar

I know that Maria Sanetra was in Poland in 1923 when Adam went back to Poland, and that Adam stayed with his sister and brought his family there. (The family he could find: Wife Alfreda and children Bronislaw and Jozef) But that is all that I know of or heard mentioned. We do not have death dates. So by 1923, that leaves siblings Apolonia, Katarzyna and Helena most likely living. Are they still in Poland? Or did they immigrate? One person that interests me is Apolonia. She was married to a Klosak and an Oczkowski. Both those families immigrated same times our family was leaving. I only know Jozef Klosak's marriage date, but wish I knew his parents to see if maybe he was a sibling of Marianna Klosak who brought Bronislawa Sanetra to this country. If that was so, then Marianna would indeed be an aunt of Bronislawa. I've including the marriage info I have. It's really hard to read. It was done in really early digital image days. I'm so grateful someone took these pictures for me. If I can read it right, I think Jozef Klosak's mother's maiden name is Zyzak. Maybe the Latin form of Agnes? My guess is Agnes Zyzak. I can't read the fathers name at all. Click on images to view full screen.

Karolina Matuszek's picture helps me

Karolina has braids on top her head & is smiling

Soon I hope to tell more of Karolina's story. But today, I just wanted to tell why I like this picture. This is is a picture of Karolina at a school for deaf children in Vienna, about 1916 or 1917. Karolina went to this school for 8 years, and learned German. Karolina's family all learned German to communicate with her when she got home. A handicap was deadly at that time, especially if the Gestapo knew about it. And Karolina lived where the Gestapo invaded. Sometimes we don't know why things happen. But I do believe good things can come from overcoming difficult challenges. Karolina's family was able to be part of the resistance, because they knew German. Karolina was not killed because of a handicap, as many were at that time. Many people never knew she was deaf, she had an excellent education.

I am personally having some challenges, and am considered handicapped. I have trouble walking. I also sometimes have problems with my hands. I have leg braces and knee braces and am braced up most my legs. I use canes to help balance, and a walker. Sometimes I just can't walk at all and use a wheelchair. It's now extremely difficult (and some days impossible) for me to walk up stairs. But my house is 2 stories. My bedroom and bathroom are upstairs and the kitchen is downstairs. I never wanted to move again, but I am moving to a one level house in a month. I just got a wheelchair in November. There is so much to learn and adjust to, it is a bit overwhelming some times. Trying to relearn how to do everything from sitting! But when I sit in my office, and see Karolina's smiling picture, it makes me smile. I think that she would have understood. We had to learn different things, but we both have had to learn to adapt and adjust. Karolina is smiling, looking like she might be happy to be on an adventure. I'm happy I get to learn with my family. I think going away from home, to another country for so long, would be hard, but definitely adventurous. An investment in the future.

Many times the people who went before us understand and can teach us from their many experiences. But even more than just people, our ancestors. Often times, when we are doing something hard, someone else has done that too. Maybe you didn't know before, because you can't always tell from looking at someone. Learning more about them, or looking at that picture may help. You can remember they survived the hard days too! Another thing that cheers me up, is that I even have this picture. It's pretty amazing how I got it and the story with it. A relative who our family lost contact with, (many years ago) saw my blog, and reconnected with me. This picture is from Jolanta Piecuch and her father Adolf Sanetra.

A friend of mine writes a food blog. I test her recipes. I have food allergies, she does all allergy friendly recipes. Sometimes it is hard for me to visualize things though. Her family talked her into doing video clips on her blog. I found them immensely helpful. I have had several friends tell me I too should post some videos about my work in digitizing and research. I will try to brave it like my friend. A few years ago (Sep 2009) I did a test and made this video clip with just a webcam on my computer. A few people said I should post it on my blog. I will try to start a video page. Not sure what all video clips I can get. Maybe I can get some video clips of my grandparents telling old stories about Paul and Catherine too. So here starts an experiment. Note, there is a new video page added, with this clip. Underneath the welcome heading of the blog.

Paul Sanetra and his friend Joe Gonkie 1928

Wisconsin Capital 2 Sep 1928

Wisconsin Capital 2 Sep 1928

Joe Gonkie- Wisconsin Capital 2 Sep 1928

Ferry Boat Wisconsin Dells 2 Sep 1928

Wisconsin Dells 2 Sep 1928

Paul Sanetra, ?, ?, Joe Gonkie 2 Sep 1928

I am not sure who Joe Gonkie is. I think it is spelled Gonkie, that's what the handwriting looks like to me. See the Capital picture above with writing on the front, that I titled "Joe Gonkie-Wisconsin Capital 2 Sep 1928". I just have these few pictures. It looks like Paul took a trip with some friends. My guess would be the other two people in the picture with Paul and Joe are Joe's family. But the picture was not labeled. Paul Sanetra was 23 years old in these pictures. This was the time period in between leaving the family that raised him until he married. Click on pictures to view full screen.

Paul Sanetra with his friends Fred, Zella and Gussie Hoffman July 4th, 1930

Paul Sanetra went with his friends to  Paw Paw, Lake Michigan, staying at Asuwikit Cottage. The pictures were just labeled Zella and Fred Hoffman. And another Gussie and Zella and Paul. So I actually do not know if Hoffman is really Gussie's last name. I also don't know if Hoffman is Zella's married or maiden name. I don't know anything about these people other than that I have these few pictures. I tried to find them on the Census but could not. We assume they were just friends of Paul Sanetra and he took this vacation trip with them. Paul Sanetra was 25 years old in these pictures, and was single. Paul married Catherine Stowe in 1933. Click on pictures to view full screen. If you know the people in the pictures, I would love to heard from you. I will post an update about their names if I find one.

Zella and Gussie 4 Jul 1930

Fred and Zella Hoffman 4 Jul 1930

Zella, Paul and Gussie 4 Jul 1930

Paul Sanetra 4 Jul 1930