Mary Helen Melus was born on May 13, 1913 in Krakow, Poland to the parents of Stephen and Amelia and two brothers Stanley and Steven. Her mother and father were farmers and owned some land working with other families selling their produce at the city and country side markets. Before being married Mary's father was a Catholic monk and practiced the religion until he lost his faith and became an atheist. Her family stayed in Poland until the rumblings of upcoming World War I was on the horizon. The Polish leader, Jozel Pilsudski, was prepared to go to war against Germany, Austria and Russia. With the knowledge that the Polish would side with Austria and not Russia or Germany almost all the fighting of Eastern Front would take place on Polish soil causing my grandmother's family to flee.