Balwina Silka, 86, passed away on July 31 ^st 2021.  Born in Lipie, Poland, she immigrated to the US in 1984 and settled in Clifton.  She was a faithful parishioner of St. John Kanty RC Church.  She worked for DeGraff Dairies Plant Store, Mario's Restaurant, as well as countless other jobs.  In Poland, Balwina was the Director of Transportation of the Township Cooperative of Glogow Malopolski.

Balwina was a trailblazer, who came to the US on her own, bravely paving the way to build a better life for her family.  She was married to the late Stanislaw Josef Silka who passed away in 1990.  She was a tireless worker and caretaker, helping raise not only her 5 siblings from a young age during a tumultuous landscape in Poland, but also her own children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  Balwina was a strong, determined woman that always kept busy and never took breaks, even when we asked her to. She preferred to take maximum advantage of every minute of everyday that she lived.  Her true passion revolved around taking care of her loved ones; she was Grandma to all. She loved to cook, bake, and feed anyone who crossed her threshold.  She also enjoyed gardening, sewing, reading her prayer books, practicing writing in English, playing slots and "31," singing old Polish songs, traveling, and even camping. Most recently, she devoted her life to her best friend, River, who lovingly named her 'Baba Bina.' She was the happiest we remember her in her final years, embracing love, life, family, and new adventures full of warm memories.

She is survived by many loving relatives.  Beloved daughters Alicja Kosecki and her husband Jerzy, and Ewa Silka-Sozanska, loving grandchildren Margaret Dziadosz and her fiancé Blake Kabnick, Oscar Kosecki, Adam Kosecki, Anna Wojnar and her husband Tomasz, and Barbara Sozanska.  She was a cherished great grandmother of Aleksandra Balwina Wojnar, River Henryk Dziadosz, and Hubert Wojnar.  Dear sister of Fryderyka Hul, Wladyslawa Lachcik, Teresa Gryzwacz, and the late Maria Liznick and Antoni 'Tesiu' Ciesla  She is survived by her dearest family friend, Lydia Banek

Visiting Wednesday 4-8 PM at Shook Funeral Home, 639 Van Houten Ave., Clifton. Funeral to begin Thursday 9 AM at the funeral home, followed by Mass at 10 AM, St. John Kanty RC Church, Clifton.  Interment, East Ridgelawn Cemetery, Clifton.

Although Balwina's light has dimmed, we know that she is watching over us from above; the loving memories of Balwina Silka will be in our hearts forever.  Please keep Balwina and our family in your prayers.