Helen Marie Zyvoloski

Helen Marie Zyvoloski, 97, passed peacefully to heavenly life on Jan. 9, 2025, while sleeping and wearing one of her “signature” knit hats that she became known for in her community living center. She was affectionately called “Bubba” (grandma) by family members, friends and caregivers.

Helen was born at home on April 2, 1927, in Fayette County, Penn., to John Fedinets (Janos Fedinecz) and Mary Mitroka (Maria), who came to the United States in the early 1900s from small villages in the Carpathian Mountain region of Austria-Hungary, now western Ukraine. Her deep roots make her part of the original Ruthenian, or Carpatho-Rusyn, population of that area, controlled by many different countries over the years.

Helen was the ninth of 10 children. Sadly, she and her siblings born in the United States never met their oldest brother George, left behind with grandparents in Eastern Europe. Helen learned on her 95th birthday that close relatives, including her oldest brother’s son, were finally located in Europe through social media research. This brought great joy and closure after a lifelong search for details about her heritage.

As a first-generation American and young coal miner’s daughter, Helen lived a simple but often difficult life in Searights, Penn. Her childhood “playground” was nearby abandoned coke ovens. And her youth consisted of planting and harvesting potatoes, picking berries when available for a rare family treat of homemade pie, attending school and meeting up with friends in front of the gas station — the only hangout spot in town. The family resided in a two-bedroom duplex owned by the mining company and subsisted on “way too many meals of potatoes or pickled pig’s feet,” she often recalled, vowing to never live in that kind of poverty again.

Tragedy and hardship visited the family often during Helen’s first decades. Youngest brother Paul died at age 12 when his wagon was struck by a passing auto; mother Maria died at age 46 of tuberculosis when Helen was just 9 years old; sister Mary, a second mom to her younger siblings, was relocated to a tuberculosis treatment hospital when it was discovered that she also had the disease; four brothers fought in World War II, where 24-year-old John died as a prisoner of war near the Philippine Islands when his transport ship was bombed; and another brother, Andrew, later went missing in action during the Korean War and was held prisoner in Communist China.

The summer Helen turned age 16, after only two years of high school, the girl next door convinced her to leave Searights to escape the poor prospects they both faced. They headed to Cleveland, Ohio, where Helen found work as a waitress. Helen’s older sister Ann later joined her in Cleveland, where they shared an apartment and enjoyed a new start in life together.

Helen met her future husband, World War II veteran and U.S. Navy man George Zyvoloski, while attending USO dances with her sister and friends. Helen married George Marshall Zyvoloski on July 22, 1950, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Cleveland, Ohio.

Soon after, the newlyweds relocated to Minnesota, where George’s family resided. Helen learned to can vegetables with his aunt in the basement of their shared duplex and especially enjoyed Minnesota’s plentiful fishing lakes.

Oldest son Mark was born in Minneapolis and second son Kevin was born in Springfield, Ill., in the historic neighborhood where President Lincoln once lived. The family moved to Milwaukee, Wis., in 1959 and was active with St. Catherine Catholic Church.

Helen served as den mother for her sons’ Cub Scout pack, hosting weekly meetings and activities. She took dozens of sewing and cooking classes at Milwaukee Area Technical College and was excited to learn Old World tailoring techniques from a very meticulous European-born tailor. Helen used those skills to make suit coats and pants for her family and put impressive meals on the table for special occasions.

While raising her family, Helen worked part time as a waitress and later got a job as a unit clerk at nearby St. Joseph’s Hospital in Milwaukee. That experience inspired an interest in patient care.

In 1973, a month before her oldest son graduated from high school, husband George unexpectedly passed away of a heart attack at age 53. Necessity and determination quickly put Helen on a path of higher education, starting with earning her high school equivalency (GED), followed by becoming a licensed practical nurse and later earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Her sons recall taking college courses at the same time as their mom in her mid-40s, all doing homework together around the kitchen table. They each worked various jobs full-time while attending school to pay the household bills.

As a registered nurse, Helen worked in hospital, industrial and private settings throughout her professional career. Her longest employment was as an occupational health nurse for the Milwaukee Post Office for almost 30 years, retiring as the department manager. She then worked as an ambulance assistant and did private home care for another decade and a half, remarkably working until her early 90s. Two of her longest assignments were taking care of Margaret “Greta” Murphy, daughter of the founder of Milwaukee School of Engineering, Oscar Werwath and Henry Nagy, the founder of Spancrete.

She loved to bake chocolate chip and snickerdoodle cookies for her appreciative grandchildren and, to their great delight, chose to celebrate her 70th birthday at a Chuck E Cheese restaurant. She took them to museums, restaurants, parades, zoos, fairs and on horse-drawn carriage rides, attended their various theater, music and sports activities and modeled how to be friendly and kind.

Helen had a natural curiosity about the world, and in her later years traveled with her sister or friends to places such as Brazil, Turkey, Russia and China, along with regular trips to see family in North Carolina, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Ohio.

She loved going to thrift stores and estate sales; was a member of Grand Avenue United Methodist Church, Port Washington, where she helped with the annual church rummage sale fundraiser; pursued her family genealogy with daughter-in-law Barbara; prepared scrapbooks for her children and grandchildren; enjoyed programs offered by the Port Washington Senior Center; and spent lots of time with her special furry friends — golden retrievers Bowie and Finnigan.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents Mary and John Fedinets; nine siblings and all but one of their spouses, including: George/Yuri (Barbara) in Ukraine, Andrew Fedenets (Marie and Cecelia), Mary (Ford Moomey), Michael (Ingebor), John Jr., William, Ann (Joseph Tadej), Peter (Loretta) and Paul in the United States.

She is survived by one sister-in-law, Eleanor (Bill’s wife), along with sons Mark (Barbara Howard Zyvoloski) and Kevin (Ellen Sullivan); five grandchildren, Kelsey, Gregory, Brendan (Carolyn/Carly), Taylor and Austin Zyvoloski; two great grandchildren, George and Eloise (with one on the way); many loving nephews and nieces (in two parts of the world); and close friends and neighbors.

At the time of her death, Helen had lived in Port Washington, Wis., for 20 years and had been widowed for almost 52 years, during which time she devoted herself wholeheartedly to her family and the loving care of others. She radiated kindness, quiet assurance, a fun dose of mischief and was very well loved by all. In her final days, she acknowledged she had led quite a challenging but very full life.

The family offers thanks to Dr. Deidre Faust and associates; the staff of Ellen’s Home/High Point Residence, Port Washington; Lasata Care Center, Cedarburg; and Preceptor Home and Hospice for their attentive, high-quality end-of-life care for Helen. The family was further lovingly assisted by Rebecca Derk, Eernisse Funeral Home, and Monica McDowell, Holy Cross Cemetery.

A graveside memorial service will be conducted by Pastor David Guse on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 1 p.m. at Holy Cross Cemetery, 7301 W. Nash St., Milwaukee, WI 53216, where Helen will be laid to rest with her husband George in block 39, grave #5. Guests will meet in their vehicles at the cemetery office and follow in a processional to the gravesite for a committal service. Light refreshments and beverages will be served following the memorial service. In case of inclement weather, the service will be held in one of the cemetery chapels.

Eernisse Funeral Home in Port Washington is proudly serving the Zyvoloski family.

Online condolences may be left at www.eernissefuneralhome.com.