“I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done.” Those words appeared on the funeral program of Walter Jagiełło in 2006. He was better known as “L’il Wally,' the great Polish-American polka musician and songwriter. | SaltWire
Johnny and Stella Paruch are shown here in the 1940s while Johnny was in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was a musician there, too, often playing to cheer up wounded soldiers. CONTRIBUTED • BEATON INSTITUTE – CAPE BRETON UNIVERSITY - BEATON INSTITUTE - CAPE BRETON UNIVERSITY“I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done.”
Last week, I was reflecting on an “afterglow of smiles” and how this image ties into the broad ethic of hospitality. We were gathered at the Polish Village Hall in Whitney Pier for a beautiful evening of memories, songs, stories and wonderful Polish przystawki . It was in honour of the late Polish Cape Breton musician Johnny Paruch .
A Johnny Paruch Memories Night was held Sept. 15 at the Polish Village Hall in Whitney Pier as part of Nova Scotia Polish Heritage Month. In the photo, from left to right, are Marjorie Ardelli, Carolyn Ardelli-Kiley and Shirley Ardelli. CONTRIBUTED • ALISON ETTER - BEATON INSTITUTE - CAPE BRETON UNIVERSITYJohnny performed in many venues. An exhibit about Johnny, recently prepared by Cape Breton University’s Beaton Institute, is headlined “Sydney’s Accordion Virtuoso.
I am talking about working hard to leave an afterglow of smiles. We could call this the “Johnny Paruch School of Hospitality.” “My father-in-law was a wonderful man,” wrote Erin Paruch. “He was always ready and willing to go play his music for anyone who asked. I remember him standing at the door with his accordion waiting to go play in nursing homes…” She listed other places where Johnny thought he could bring joy.Hospitality requires curiosity
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