Our Polish German marriage was controversial. For the surprisers I had ready answers, such as: sleeping with enemies is very exiting. Or : I married Klaus, because I needed his perfect English for my career. We also had fringe benefits in German shops and businesses. We always had finished our transactions with big prize cuts.

Klaus, my love. We spent 33 years together. From the moment we met at Rundle Mall we were attracted to each other. However we both had very strong personalities and none of us were going to let the other tell us what to do, how to do, where to do and when to do. How come we lived happily for so long? I just realised that we were scared of losing each other, so instead statements we had developed questions such as: what do you want? Would you like? May I invite you to…? How do you like…? Etc. Of course sometimes one of us made a mistake starting with “don’t”. That was always a big mistake, causing a giant, intense, short storm, peacefully ending in a coffee shop, a pub or a restaurant.!

We were passionate about the same and different things. You loved sailing with your friends. It wasn’t my passion, but I always had supported you to do so. You sold your yacht, you bought an old caravan, renovated it, and we were happily caravanning around Australia and Tasmania, completing around 100 000 km together. Our other passion was travelling overseas to see the great wonder’s of the world, to visit our Polish and German family, to cruise on Holland American. We sheared a passion for classical music, we enjoyed concerts, operas, theatres, movies and art galleries. On our organised trips you always were the only husband who was supporting the wife’s passion for shopping. To my question which shoes or handbag I should buy, you used to answer: buy them all.

You supported my commitment to work for Polish society in Australia, often involving in my projects, so a couple years ago members of Polish Women Association joked that you shall receive an honorary Polish citizenship. You were so proud when I got a medal in Poland in 2013 and another one in Australia in June 2021. I was very proud of you all this time along.

My darling Klaus, our life was amazing, wonderful, interesting, never boring to the end of your earthly life. We worked hard professionally, we were renovating ruins which we bought, but we liked what ever we did together, never ever complaining. My dear Klaus, You are generous, sharing what we have with those less fortunate. Your financial commitment to charities which you believed in, I will continue to help until the end of my days. Monthly you and I are supporting Food Banks and now also we committed money for Kosciuszko National Park foundation to recover fauna and flora devastated by bush fires in last summer, because Your heart always have belonged to Australia, the country you love and you chose to live in.

But most of all you are a family man. Our happiness was enriched by our love of our family. We are proud of our 3 children Stephen, Julie and Ania. The youngest Ania finished high school and university while living with us. Our children are happily married and we have 10 amazing grandchildren you love so much, starting with the youngest one for a change: Emerson, Rosie, Kian, Izabella, Lily, Ayden, Rory, Hannah, Joel and Sarah, who got married last Sunday. They all love you so much. Our house was full of happiness and satisfaction which we enjoyed with all members of our family. In Germany your Mutti, your brother Jürgen, his family and your sister Gudrun, your cousins in Kologne, all became my dear family whose love I will cherish forever. You are loved by my Polish family very much: by Hania and Andrew in Adelaide, Grazyna in Holland, my cousins family of Sztanderskis in Warsaw. You were surrounded by dear friends and You kept touch with all of them in some cases for over 60 years.

Today our family and friends from Adelaide are present in this chapel to say goodbye and those who couldn’t come are accompanying us on the screens. Your beloved children Stephen and Julie and their families are watching this ceremony from Canberra and Newcastle. Our German and Polish Family, our friends around the world are with us too. Thank you to all of you for your love and friendship. My sincerely thanks to the doctors and nurses at Ashford Hospital at the Critical Care Unit and the Marion Ward for being angelic to the very end. The care Klaus had received there was outstanding and humanitarian. Unfortunately not all doctors presented similar attitudes prior your admission to Ashford Hospital.

Unfortunately my Darling we have to lead our lives apart: you are in the Eternal World awaiting for me, I in this temporary World full of suffering. One day we will be together for ever. But now I am missing you deeply. Without you I am limping, and I have to learn to cope with that. I wrote this clumsy poem for you.

I stroke your face
I hold you in my arms
I will remember for ever
Your touch

I look at you close
I see you in the distance
I will remember for ever
Your existence

I embrace your body
I caress you in my heart
I will remember for ever Your love.

Klaus, my Darling. My heart always will beat for you, until it stops.