There are more tragic than good moments in life
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Czesława Smołka, nee Chabiniok, was born on May 25, 1932 in Zebrzydowice, which is a part of Cieszyn district. She was raised in a clerical-peasant family, professing Catholicism. Her father, Paweł Chabiniok, was a veteran of World War I, in the years 1918 -1922, he served in the Military Police of Cieszyn Duchy and then in the police of Province of Silesia. Her mother was a housewife and she could speak German and Polish language, although they usually spoke Silesian dialect at home. Czesława spent her childhood in the countryside with her older sisters - Wanda and Danuta. An important role in her life played grandparents, who lived nearby. In September 1939, her father was transferred into eastern border and she, her mother and sisters were evacuated to Ruda Różaniecka (currently Subcarpathian province). When they had returned from evacuation, Czesława started attending German primary school. Her father was arrested and imprisoned in Ostashkov and then killed in Kalinin and buried in Mednoye. Due to approaching front, at the end of March 1945, Chabiniok family escaped to Dąbrowa in Zaolzie and then to Milikow. After the war, Czesława attended seventh grade Polish primary school in Zebrzydowice. She also attended Cieszyn economic secondary school and then Cieszyn high school. After school-leaving exam, she found a job in District Union “Samopomoc Chłopska” in Cieszyn. In 1956, she married Jan Smołka, who she was distantly related to. They initially lived in Zebrzydowice and moved later to Cieszyn, where their children were born -Mariusz and Lucyna. Czesława worked for many years in Provincial Enterprise of Food Trade in Cieszyn. Her husband died in 1990, At the same time, Czesława went into early retirement. Czesława speaks Polish fluently, as well as German and Silesian dialect. She is interested in history of family and the region, she likes travelling. She lives in Cieszyn with her son Mariusz.
