Stokłosa Maria (Wdowiak); Son: Bronisław

Stokłosa, Maria Stokłosa, Bronisław When war broke out between Germany and the Soviet Union, Eugenia Kupfenberg was staying in the summer resort town of Skole, in the Stanisławow district, in Eastern Galicia. In August 1942, after numerous hardships, including the loss of her family, Kupfenberg fled to the forest, where Bronisław Stokłosa found her. Guided by humanitarian considerations only, Stokłosa offered to help the exhausted and hungry refugee. When all his attempts to find shelter for her failed, Stokłosa and his mother, Maria, decided to shelter her and Nysa Meler, who was also hiding in the forest, in their attic. In time, the refugees were joined by Jose Meler, Nysa’s husband. The three refugees stayed with Maria and Bronisław Stokłosa until July 1944, when the area was liberated. Despite their straitened circumstances, Maria Stokłosa and her son, Bronisław, saw to all the refugees’ needs and watched out for their safety. Bronisław’s concern for their safety was such that even when he fell ill, he refused to go to hospital. After the war, the Melers emigrated while Eugenia married Bronisław and moved with him to an area within Poland’s new borders. On June 16, 1997, Yad Vashem recognized Maria Stokłosa and her son, Bronisław Stokłosa, as Righteous Among the Nations. File 7243