Ewa (Eva) Ilona Karpinska Gierat, 92 of Bethlehem, CT passed away on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at Waterbury Hospital. Born in Warsaw, Poland, she was the daughter of the late Zygmunt and Grazyna (Jezewska) Karpinski. She was the wife of the late Stanislaw Gierat.

Ewa graduated from Glasgow University earning her Masters Degree in Mathematics. She worked in London, Paris and in Rome where she married the love of her life. Ewa and Stan moved to Bronxville, NY in 1951. In New York she attended Columbia University and worked at McGraw Hill Publishers. The Gierats moved to Behtlehem building their 'Domek' there in 1968. Ewa worked many years as a social worker at Catholic Family Services in Waterbury, CT, retiring in 1984. She was a friend to the Abbey of Regina Laudis where she designed Christmas cards and ran the book barn at their Fair for over 25 years. She was a member of the Church of the Nativity, a friend of the Bethlehem Library and a volunteer with the Bethlehem Land Trust.

Since her youth, Ewa was a member of Polish Scouting in Poland, then in The UK. In the U.S. in 1952 she became the first president of the national council of The Polish Scouting Organization, Inc. (Zwiazek Harcerstwa Polskiego). She was an active member all of her life, participating in all activities including camps and jamborees. She was an active member of the Polish American Congress, Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America. She was a vibrant, intelligent, generous and kind being who loved literature, classical music, corresponding and writing articles. She authored The History of Polish Scouting in the USA. She also published a memoir of her family, Korzenie i Owoce (Roots and Fruits).

She is survived by her family in England whom she loved dearly and was thrilled to visit annually for many years: her niece Lala Wilbraham, her great niece Joanna O'Malley and great nephew Jozef Mycielski, their spouses and children. She was predeceased by her sister Wanda Mycielska.

Memorials: The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Abbey of Regina Laudis, 273 Flanders Road, Bethlehem, CT 06751 or to The Church of the Nativity, 48 East St, Bethlehem, CT 06751.

Cemetery: Our Lady of Czestochowa

Location: Munson-Lovetere Woodbury

Funeral: Church of the Nativity

Services: A Mass of Christian Burial followed by interment will take place on Saturday, May 17, at 12: 15pm at the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Doylestown, PA. A memorial Mass will also be held on Friday May 16 at 10: 30 am at The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, CT.

Visitation: Family and Friends may call on Thursday, May 15 from 5 to 8 pm at Munson-Lovetere Funeral Home, 2 School St., Woodbury, CT.