To view the live stream liturgy, please visit https://www.holyfamilygf.org/

Theresa Solarski , 90, of Grand Forks, N.D., died peacefully Thursday, May 20, 2021, at home with her family at her side and listening to her favorite Polish carols.

Theresa was born on January 7, 1931, to Josephine Bertha Olczak and adopted and raised by her great uncle and aunt, Andrew and Frances Babinski, on a farm in Pulaski Township and in Warsaw, N.D. She attended primary schools in the area, including the St. Anthony Convent and School in Warsaw, and high school in Minto, N.D.

Theresa met her husband, Wadsworth C. Solarski, at a wedding dance. "It was the best thing that ever happened to me. He made my life special." They married on October 25, 1949, in St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Warsaw and danced together for the next 57 years.

Theresa and Wads farmed in the Drayton, N.D, area before moving to Grand Forks, where he was employed at Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc. She was a waitress at Whitey's Cafe in East Grand Forks and the Elks Club in Grand Forks.

Theresa and Wads loved to dance and play cards and delighted in hosting family celebrations and holiday gatherings, graciously welcoming one and all. She was a wonderful cook and baker who enjoyed gardening, canning, and assisting with meals at Holy Family Catholic Church. Summers included fishing for walleye at Lake of the Woods and feeding the catch to hungry guests.

Theresa most cherished being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and especially savored her time rocking the little ones. She loved attending school activities, games, and concerts and teaching children how to bake homemade buns. Her artistic talents blossomed through ceramics and oil painting, and she gifted many beautiful works to loved ones.

Theresa is survived by her children Edward (Leslie) Solarski of Grand Forks, Dena (Darrell) Vanyo of Crozet, Virginia, Richard Solarski of Moorhead, Minn., James Solarski of Grand Forks, and Janie Solarski, of Minnetonka, Minn.; 11 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Wads; daughter-in-law Carla (Richard) Solarski; her parents; siblings: Dorothy Kowalski, Florence Narloch, Harry Babinski, Florian Babinski, Sylvester Babinski, Richard Babinski, Andrew Babinski, and Damian Babinski.

In lieu of flowers , memorial donations may be made to: Holy Family Catholic Church 1018 18th Avenue S., Grand Forks, ND 58201 or St. Stanislaus Preservation Trust 133 17th Street W. Grafton, ND 58237 or St. Gianna's Maternity Home 15605 County Road 1 Minto, ND 58261

Mass of Christian Burial: 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 26, 2021 in Holy Family Catholic Church, Grand Forks, ND.
Visitation: 5:00 to 7: 00 p.m. Tuesday with a 7:00 p.m. vigil service and a 4:30 p. m. rosary service in the Historic Norman Funeral Home Chapel.  Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the liturgy in the church on Wednesday.
Burial: Calvary North Cemetery, Grand Forks, ND.