Hattie Toland

Hattie H. Koscielny Toland, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Malecki) Koscielny was born on July 3, 1924, on a 100 acre farm in the Polish community of Marche, Arkansas and passed from this life on June 9, 2017. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Paul, Pete, Stanley, and Theodore, and sisters, Elizabeth Skapka, Lucy Koehler, Frances Koscielny, Anna Kopacz, and Agnes Mayer. She received a bilingual (Polish/English) education at Immaculate Heart of Mary. Hattie lived through the 1927 flood, the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. During WWII, her family, along with 40 other Polish families, left their homes with everything they owned to make way for the 39,500 acre expansion of Camp Pike (now known as Camp Robinson). Her father set up a tent on James Rd. where he and the boys lived and her mother and the female siblings stayed with relatives. Hattie mourned the loss of her childhood home and later in life she gave an old photograph to a local artist and had him paint a picture of the home place.

Fiercely strong and independent, Hattie took a job at Westinghouse Lamp Plant in Little Rock and bought a car, house and married Wallace Toland when she was in her 40's. She took an early retirement package after 34 years at Westinghouse and she and Wallace began their travels. After Wallace's death, she took her one and only plane ride to California with friends. Hattie made several "Business Trips" to the Mississippi casinos. It was during her last trip that she suffered a debilitating stroke at the age of 89 ending her independence. However, she traded her love of the casinos to the Bingo games at the Robinson Nursing and Rehabilitation.

She is survived by many nieces, nephews, as well as great and great nieces/nephews. They send their deepest appreciation to the staff of Robinson Nursing and Rehabilitation and the staff of Kindred Hospice, namely Kelly Formel, RN and Michael Parker, LCSW.
Visitation/Rosary will be Tuesday, June 13, 2017, at 9:30 with Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and Immaculate Heart of Mary Cemetery. Online obituary at www.SmithFamilyCares.com .