Maria K. Brodowicz

Maria K. Brodowicz (1932-2018), of Wethersfield, Connecticut, was deeply committed to her Polish heritage and involved in many aspects of community life. Born in Poland, her early life was disrupted by the Second World War and forced exile. With other members of her family, Maria eventually immigrated to the United States in 1954. She was a member of many Polish-American organizations including the Polish American Congress, Ss. Cyril and Methodius Church in Hartford and the Rosary Society, the Paderewski Choir, and the Polish Cultural Club of Greater Hartford where she often participated in and managed cultural events. Maria was a skilled artist in forms such as sewing, home decorations, and foodways, and she knew many folk traditions and practices, sharing her knowledge with the community. She received the Cavalier Cross Order of Merit Republic of Poland from the president of Poland as well as the Siberian Exiles Cross, and was named Immigrant of the Year in 2017 at a ceremony led by the Secretary of the State at the State Capitol. As her obituary states, “Most special and important to her was her work with the Polish Scouting Organization (ZHP), she was a founding member of the scouts in Hartford and president of the Friends of Polish Scouts (KPH) for thirteen years. As a lifelong scout herself, she achieved the highest rank, and as a leader, was devoted to mentoring the young women in her care.” Maria was instrumental in assisting with CCHAP’s exhibit “Polonia w Connecticut: Polish American Traditional Arts in Connecticut” by creating decorations for the Christmas section of the exhibit and creating an Easter Table as it would be made and decorated in a Polish American home.