Lidia Kurasz 88, formerly of Bristol, Conn., passed away Dec. 19, 2014, at Pen Bay Hospital in Rockport.

Lidia was born and raised by two hardworking and soulful Polish Parents named Anna and Francicek Duda. Together they lived in the quaint village of Panewniki, Poland, before the beginning of World War II and German occupation, which would divide family forever. Lidia was just 14 years old when the Nazi's came to her childhood home.

Lida was a woman of great beauty, courage and grace due to her faith and Polish Heritage. She was born a survivor at heart and lived to share many amazing stories about her youth, growing up in Poland as a young girl on her father's fishing lakes, her survival and experiences during World War II and her life after the war. She would leave behind a triumphant legacy for her family to pass on and would be their inspiration and hope throughout their own lives and struggles.

Lidia's childlike innocence made her most unique and beautiful. And perhaps it was the reason why her late husband, George W. Kurasz, fell in love with her. His nickname for her in polish was "Jabba," meaning little frog.

Lidia was liberated by American soldiers from a POW camp at the end of the war. After her liberation, she went on to join the Polish III Core Army, entertain the troops, reside in Italy and eventually come to London, England. In London, she became a talented dress designer and seamstress, hired by a lovely woman who took her under her wing and became Lidia's best friend, confidant and mentor. London was a challenging time of healing, learning and personal growth for Lidia, but she was up for the challenge and put her passion into her work and new found life of freedom and self discovery.

Lidia met her husband, George W. Kurasz, while in London. He too was a World War II survivor from Poland. When they met, George was studying at the University of London Polytechnic to become a mechanical engineer. Upon his graduation, Westinghouse offered him an exciting career in the United States of America. Lidia had given birth to their first born son, Mark, and the family ventured to the United States together on the first Queen Elizabeth 58 years ago. Together with their baby, they would begin their new life in "The Land of Milk and Honey" as Lidia herself used to always say. What an adventure it would be for them as the first Polish immigrants in their families to ever land on American soil. Lidia and George went on to have two more children, son Peter in Virginia and daughter Kristina in Connecticut.

Lidia was a fabulous cook throughout her adult life and loved to entertain friends and family often. She truly captured the beauty and spirit of Christmas for her family by preparing for them a traditional Polish Christmas Eve dinner ever year named "Wigilia." A dinner her family in Poland also shared in her youth together, it took Lidia several weeks in advance to prepare for Christmas Eve and she poured all of her love into it and into her family always. After their Wigilia dinner, the family would often gather around the piano and listen to Lidia and George play and sing together in Polish a variety of traditional Christmas Songs from their youth, with the family attending midnight church mass thereafter. Lidia would go on to make many Wigilia dinners at Christmas for her family well into her late 70s and after her husband George passed on. She will be deeply missed this Christmas and forever!

The family would like to recognize and greatly thank all the wonderful doctors, nurses and staff of Pen Bay Medical Center and Windward Gardens over the 20 years in which they cared for her. They truly appreciated Lidia's Journey, courage and strength and very much blessed her life.

Survivors include her sons, Mark and Peter; and her daughter, Kristina; her grandchildren, Jessica, Jeremiah, Alicia and Michael; along with five great-grandchildren.

A private family service will be held. A Mass will also be held in Lidia's name at Our Lady Of Good Hope Catholic Church in Camden at a date in the future.