Alina Sadowski

Mrs. Alina (Bagienska) Sadowski, age 80, passed away peacefully on October 23, 2024, in Madison, Wisconsin. She was born on April 27, 1944, in Kułakowszczyzna, Belarus to John and Stanisława Bagienski. She married Frank Sadowski on October 4, 1964, at Kościół Mariacki in Słupsk, Poland.

 Alina was born near the end of World War II in rural Belarus and lived life with resilience from the moment she entered this world. She would always say “co ma być, to będzie” or “what is supposed to be, will be.” Alina lost her father at the age of 12, and as the eldest daughter she took on the responsibilities of helping her mom raise a large family. With the help of her uncle, Alina was able to relocate to Słupsk, Poland with her newly widowed mother and her siblings as refugees after the war in search of a better life. She always said moving to Poland was like “coming to America,” as they could find staple groceries like milk and bread. Alina graduated from a technical school in Słupsk and then worked at a local delicatessen to help provide for her family. It was in Słupsk where she met her future husband Frank, who would frequently stop in for lunch and to see her.

 With the help of Frank’s brother John, Alina and Frank moved to Racine, Wisconsin in 1965, one year after their marriage. They often joked this was their “honeymoon.” Eventually, they found their way to Chicago, where with the help of friends, they found jobs and began their life in America in earnest. Alina worked at the Zenith factory, prior to having children. Later she managed their two apartment buildings with smart business acumen and meticulous upkeeping. She was truly a Renaissance woman – she would grow her own veggies and fruit, cook meals from scratch, sew and mend, and fix just about anything. And she made the world’s best pierogi and gołąbki.

Alina was the best mother and nana anyone could ever ask for, full of affection and patience. She was so kind to everyone she met, with a smile that was sweet and sincere. Her favorite thing in the whole world was spending time with her family. She also loved to read, puzzle, play cards and Sudoku. Most who played her could not beat her at rummy or tysiąc, a Polish card game. She was an avid gardener and spent hours outside tending her vegetable and flower gardens, eager to share her tips learned over a lifetime. She was a long-time parishioner at the St. Tarcissus Catholic Church in Chicago and then Our Lady Queen of Peace in Madison, Wisconsin.

 Surviving are her daughters Liz (Scott Henderson) Sadowski of Madison, WI, Irene (Ross) Padlin of Madison, WI, and Donna (Adam) Hart of Austin, TX; nine grandchildren, Collin, Steven, Nicholas, and Joshua Henderson; Luella, Adelina, and Marlys Padlin; and Colton and Everett Hart; and her sister Scholastica of Saarbrücken, Germany.

 She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Sadowski; her parents, John and Stanisława Bagienski; and her siblings, Bruno, Wacław, Richard, Leonarda, Teresa, and Freddie.

The funeral service will be held November 16, 2024, at 11 am at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish followed by burial at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Madison, WI. A memorial bench at Olbrich Gardens in Madison will be dedicated to remembering Alina, who taught that what is tended will grow. If you would like to make a donation, please contact Liz or make a donation to Olbrich Garden in Alina’s name.