Alexandria E. Patras
Founder of Polish Children's HeartlineOn September 2, 2010, Alexandria E. Patras, a co-founder of the Polish Children's Heartline, passed away. She was eagerly awaiting the 25th Anniversary of the organization which, sadly, took place on September 12, 2010. She was very active in Polonian activities, but the Polish Children's Heartline held a prominent place in her life.
Since its inception in 1985, she was instrumental in setting goals for providing medical and surgical equipment to hospitals in Poland treating children with cardiac problems. Under her direction Heartline grew from helping three hospitals in Zabrze, Katowice and the Mothers Hospital in Lodz to providing aid to the pediatric units of three more hospitals; Grajewo, Suwalki and the Children's Hospital in Bialystok, Poland. Over the course of this time over $16,000,000 of medical and surgical equipment was provided to the above mentioned hospitals.
For her involvement in numerous Polonian activities as well as helping the children in Poland, she was recognized by the Polish government and received many awards and honors. Among them were the Silver Cross of Merit by the Polish Government in Exile, Silver Medal of the Order of the Republic of Poland, the highest award given to a foreign subject, Honorary Ambassador of Bialskopodlaski from the Polish Academy of Medicine, Citation of Merit from the Polish American Congress.
She is survived by her husband Stephen, a co-founder of the Polish Children's Heartline, her sons, Stephen (Linda) and Leonard, and daughter Doreen Cramer, nephews Eugene and Walter Kulsa, and grandchildren, Corey Cramer and Mila Kulsa, and great grandchildren, Rebecca, Brian, Ella and Evan.
In tribute to the memory of Alexandria E. Patras contributions to the Polish Children's Heartline, 177 Broadway, Clark, New Jersey 07066 would be appreciated.
From: Post Eagle, Sept. 29, 2010