Helen Sanetra

Helen Sanetra
A Helen Sanetra wrote my grandmother Catherine Stowe Sanetra a few times in the mid 1960's. Helen's family was from Zablocie, then settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Helen was the daughter of Thomas Sanetra and Jadwiga Biel. (from Zablocie) Thomas, Jadwiga, her widowed mother Regina, and (Jadwiga and Thomas' children): Aneila, Stanislaus, Anna, and Antoni immigrated in 22 Dec 1913. Then Jadwiga and Thomas had Helen and Joseph, who were born in Minneapolis. I just reread their letters, and unfortunately neither Helen nor my grandmother were ever able to find out how they were related. But here's some things that stand out for me: Branisalwa Sanetra, (called "Bessie" by my family) Adam Sanetra's oldest child, had to immigrate separately. When Bessie did immigrate, she traveled with Maryanna Wojtas, listed as her aunt. Maryanna and Bessie could not find their family in Chicago, so they (probably) went to Minneapolis, to live with Maryanna's husband, Jozef Wojtas. The address on Helen's letter was only about 3 blocks away from where Maryanna's address was on Maryanna's death certificate in 1923. Maryanna, Bessie and Helen's families were all from Zyweic-Zablocie. And they all lived in the area called St. Anthony's Parish, in Minneapolis. I hear that today, mass is still given in Polish at St. Anthony's church. Also, Marianna Wojtas maiden name was Klosak, and we have several Klosak and Biel relatives. We just don't know how they're related yet. I'm hoping one day someone will recognize some info I'm posting and help me figure things out.