With heavy hearts, we would like to pay tribute to Zbigniew Janusz, a companion, friend and much-loved colleague at Emmaus Cambridge who sadly passed away after an illness which spanned many months.
Originally from Poland, Zbigniew, 73, joined our community in April 2011 at the age of 60, during a period he described as his “leap of life” and “freedom”, after years of fruitless work, and then a spell of homelessness in Camden, London, for 18 months.
A kind and gentle man, Zbigniew, was a poet and journalist who was quite well-known in the cultural circles back in his hometown of Przemysl, Poland, where he was laid to rest on 23rd January.
Such was his reputation and respect in Przemysl that a couple of newspapers posted obituaries following his passing, according to his daughter Berenika.
‘The Way to Emmaus’
In his own moving written account, titled ‘The Way to Emmaus’, Zbigniew recalled the wonder of having his own room at Emmaus Cambridge after being homeless on the streets of London for months.
He said: “This is how, after a few months of waiting, I became a companion and after three years spent in London, among which half of it I spent on the street, I moved near Cambridge.
“If you had spent a year and a half a few metres from a busy street, in a place safe from rain or snow, but not free of cold and wind, on a hard floor, you need to learn living under a roof from the beginning.
“Two square metres of concrete has been replaced with a furnished room with a bathroom. The all-night car, bus and motorcycle noise has been replaced with a garden silence. Cigarette butts, collected on the streets, have been replaced with original tobacco.”
Talents for writing and recycling
As well as having a clear talent for writing, Zbigniew was passionate about recycling and meticulously sorted our recyclable items, either minimising what went to landfill, or helping to optimise the amount raised through the sorting of metals.
Both our community and visitors alike were very fond of him and he was always very pleased to show visitors his work. He knew the difference he was making to Emmaus Cambridge and the wider environment, and that was important to him.
Paying tribute to Zbigniew, our Chief Executive Officer, Donna Talbot, said: “Zbigniew (or Janusz as we often referred to him) was a gentle soul. He was unassuming, and yet his quiet ways made him so interesting. He absorbed everything around him and volunteered his time tirelessly at Emmaus Cambridge.
“In his spare time, he loved stamp collecting and had an impressive collection. He also loved Arsenal Football Club, something that staff and companions ribbed him about, even in his final days in hospital; he took it all in good spirits and enjoyed the banter.
“Everyone will remember his cheeky smile and his warmth. Emmaus Cambridge has lost a special friend, but his memory will live on.”
Tree planting
Companions, staff and volunteers came together on the day of Zbigniew’s funeral and marked the sad occasion with a minute’s silence in the community.
A week later, we chose to celebrate his life by having a memorial in the community and planting an olive tree in his memory, positioned in a space which Zbigniew was fond of, just near our workshop.
To further commemorate his memory, our companions and staff created a meal of polish treats which he was fond of, alongside his favourite pizzas, so we could also celebrate his origins.
The community would like to extend their thanks to staff at both Addenbrooke’s Hospital where Zbigniew received treatment and to Soham Care Home who provided nursing care prior to his death.
*You can read the full fascinating chapter, ‘The Way to Emmaus’, by Zbigniew, by clicking The Way to Emmaus.