Laura Krystyna Kolarz-Jozewicz

Laura Kolarz-Jozewicz passed away peacefully at home in Raleigh on September 17th, 2025. She was born on March 19th, 1954, in Choszczno, a town in the Northwest of Poland, to the late Helena and Stanislaw Kolarz. She spent her childhood and early adult life in Szczecin, Poland.

Laura graduated summa cum laude from her medical school in 1979, and was board certified in neurology in Poland in 1982. She moved to the United States in 1985 with her husband and son and settled in Chapel Hill. In order to practice medicine in the United States, Laura repeated her medical internship and residency in neurology with subspecialities at UNC Chapel Hill. She became board-certified in neurology and later in sleep medicine. For over 30 years, she worked in both specialties in her private practice in Raleigh. Due to her deteriorating health, Laura retired in 2024.

Laura was an exceptional and incredibly energetic woman. She lived her life to the fullest whether in her work or free time. With all her kindness and wisdom, she persevered for long hours with her patients helping them navigate their health issues. Regardless of any obstacles, she always fought to ensure the best possible outcomes for her patients. While providing neurology consultations at all major area hospitals she worked pro-bono for uninsured patients. Her patients loved her and were moved when they learned about her retirement. As a sole woman business owner in a challenging career, she always advocated for the advancement of women.

In her free time, Laura loved travel, swimming, scuba diving, walking, hiking, skiing and sailing. She traveled extensively across all seven continents, swimming and diving in seas and oceans around the world. Along trails short and long, she hiked in Patagonia, Dolomites, Rockies and sand dunes of Namibia. She skied in North America and Europe; her favorite ski area was Alta, Utah, which she enjoyed for difficulty of terrain and quality of snow. But most of all, Laura loved spending time in Emerald Isle on the North Carolina coast, where she has been vacationing since 1985. Throughout her travels, she never forgot she was a doctor and often helped strangers she encountered, whether in a yurt on the Tibetan plateau, high in the mountains of Peru or during the Drake Channel passage on the way to Antarctica.

Laura is survived by her husband of 44 years, Wojciech Jozewicz, her son Michal Jozewicz and his partner Cathy Firpo. She is also survived by her sister Anna Bielewska, niece Kasia Kotfis and her family, nephew Marcin Bielewski and numerous close cousins including Tomek Ryś, all residing in Poland and Europe.

A funeral service and reception will take place at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 940 Carmichael Street, Chapel Hill, NC on October 16th at 10:30 AM. She will be inurned on the church grounds. Laura loved flowers; small bouquets or single stems can be brought to the reception. 

Attendees are encouraged to wear lively colors, particularly aqua blue, to celebrate Laura’s love of the ocean. There will be a memory book where attendees can contribute memories of Laura. At a later date, details of a memorial to honor Laura’s life will be shared.