Folsom Funeral Service

Waltine Marie (Niedzwiedz) Kolka, a resident of Roslindale for the past 12 years, and formerly a resident of Jamaica Plain, died Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at her home in Roslindale after a long illness.  She was 81.  Waltine was born Wladyslawa Niedzwiedz on March 21, 1929 in Fall River, Massachusetts, one of the six children of Polish immigrants Jan and Zofja “Sophie” (Ozog) Niedzwiedz.  She worked for 27 years as a licensed practical nurse at the Spinal Unit of the West Roxbury Veterans Administration Hospital until her retirement in 2005.  In his eulogy presented at her graveside service her son Larry commented “Waltine Kolka was born March 21, 1929 in Fall River, Massachusetts to immigrant mill workers.  An active child, she once described herself to me as a hellion that liked to roller skate.  As a teenager she sewed gas masks on the Victory Shift.  Not a fan of school, but desireing a career, she left Fall River to attend the Shephard Gill Nursing School in Boston.  She met the love of her life [Lawrence Kolka] and they would meet at the State Ballroom as they both loved to dance.  Together they opened a nursing home and soon my sister came along, and then myself some eight years later.  Our parents doted on us, and no zoo, animal park or circus was off limits.  We both loved them very much.  She provided love, comfort, care, and occasionally a swift kick.  When she lost the love of her life she kept her mourning silent and kept the family going.   She will soon be next to him as they dance again at the Fenway ballroom.  She never doubted our success as she pushed, prodded and cajoled us along.  She was the proud mother of two college graduates.  She cheered us on to advanced degrees.  She was a great lover and supporter of her family and her extended family.  For fifty years she was a nurse.   Never once did she complain about her career; it was her calling, her passion.  I would like to read a note that one of her patients wrote on Wally’s retirement.”     “Hi Wally,    Sorry I missed you before retirement day.  The clinic will never be the same with you not there.  A lot of us guys thought of you as a 2nd mom.  You have a heart of gold and always took great care of us.  I went in today for refill and to have a sore checked.  The refill took 2 hours and I had called it in the day before.  The two nurses may be good at what they do medically but they lack sympathy and heart for the people they deal with. ”  “Hope you get used to retirement quick and hit a big one on your next Mohican trip”.

Waltine was the wife of the late Lawrence Keinhold Kolka who died in 1971.  She is survived by her son Lawrence Kolka of Walnut Creek, California; and her daughter Susan Ann Mortensen of Roslindale.  A graveside service was held August 12th, 2010 at the Gardens at Gethsemene Cemetery in West Roxbury, Massachusetts.

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