Dr. Wanda Maria Szyfelbein passed away at home on December 2, 2020 after a long, courageous battle with Parkinson’s, with her family at her side. She was wife of 51 years to Stanislaw K. Szyfelbein, mother to Magdalena and Kasia, mother-in-law to Marco and Rich, and beloved grandmother “Moonie” to Isla, Luisa, William, Richie and Klara.
Wanda’s greatest loves were her family, her faith, her love of all animals, and the patients she aimed to help.
She was the bravest and most resilient woman. She was 27 when she escaped communist Poland alone with her clothes and a few books to pursue her dream of practicing medicine. She fled to Vienna. From there she landed in New York City in 1968, where she met her soon-to-be husband. They soon moved to Boston to continue their medical careers. She was a pioneer as a female in academic medicine at a time in history when there were few women, never mind being a woman from a foreign country. She became a US citizen in 1972, and she could not have been more proud. She never took freedom for granted. She even got her driver’s license at age 31 in Boston, something unheard of in communist Poland. She handled all pressures and obstacles with strength and grace. She devoted herself to a 30-year career at Massachusetts General Hospital and became an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School. Her skill as a pathologist was a true gift. She was respected by colleagues around the world, her expert opinion sought on the toughest cases. She was as much an enthusiastic teacher to her children as she was to her residents and colleagues. She was the director of the MGH cytopathology laboratory from 1983 to 1989. She worked so hard her entire career, and man did she love a good vacation; she could have swam in the ocean off Cape Cod or in the Caribbean for hours, skied the mountains in NH or hiked the Polish Tatra mountains for days. Her next goal in life was to make sure that her daughters were educated. She felt her biggest achievement was having both girls graduate with their medical and business degrees.
Wanda cared so much for those who couldn’t speak up for themselves or who were persecuted or discriminated against. She supported the homeless, Native Americans, our veterans, and all animals of the earth; her love for the animals was so pure.
Wanda brought culture and elegance to everything she did. She exemplified bravery and resilience throughout her entire life.
During these difficult times of COVID, services will be private for immediate family. In lieu of flowers, please consider keeping Wanda’s memory alive by supporting Angell Memorial’s MSPCA, Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation, Vietnam Veterans of America, Home for Little Wanderers, Michael J. Fox Foundation, or the Covenant House.