Helen Kopetchny, a lifelong resident of Swoyersville, passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning, March 23, 2016, the eve of her 100^th Birthday, at Celtic Healthcare Hospice, Inpatient Unit at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, following a brief illness.

Her beloved husband was the late George J. Kopetchny, who passed away on December 03, 1981. George and Helen were blessed with 42 beautiful years of marriage.

Born on March 24, 1916, in Swoyersville, Helen was the youngest of seven children born to the late Joseph and Johanna (Zabowski) Golumbaski.

Helen was employed for many years by Kings College, Wilkes-Barre, working in the cafeteria. Later, she was employed by the former Acme Warehouse, Forty Fort, retiring from there.

A devout Catholic, Helen was a lifelong member of the former Saint Mary of Czestochowa Church, Swoyersville, where she was a member of the church’s Sacred Heart Society, serving for many years as the toastmistress for the society’s annual Christmas Party. She was also a member of the church choir, made pierogis for church functions, and worked the Bingo at the annual bazaar. On June 3, 2012, at the closing Mass of the church, Helen, being the oldest living member of her church, had the distinct honor of locking the church doors for the final time.

Following the closing of her church, Helen became a member of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Swoyersville.

Helen was also a longtime member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion, Andrew Lawrence Post 644, Swoyersville, and the Swoyersville Senior Citizens.

Most people will remember Helen by her love for Polka’s. For years, Helen spent many Saturday evenings dancing to the Polka’s at WVIA Studios, and her Sunday evenings were spent doing the same at the Dupont V.F.W., Post 4909.

Helen greatly enjoyed going on bus trips to the casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and locally, she enjoyed going to the Mohegan Sun and Mount Airy Casinos.

Family was always the center of Helen’s life, and she truly treasured every moment she had with her loved ones. She will forever be remembered for her great love for her family and friends; her deep faith and trust in God; her abounding kindness to every person she encountered; and for her famous one-liners that brought laughter to many. 

In addition to her parents, Joseph and Johanna Golumbaski, and her husband, George, Helen was preceded in death by her infant son, George J. Kopetchny; her brothers, Louis, Theodore, Walter and Henry Golumbaski; and her sisters, Jenny Huber and Henrietta Jacien.

Helen is survived by her daughters, Carol Bayo Sutliff and her fiancé, Robert Garey, Forty Fort; and Kathy Sweetra and her husband, Ray, Swoyersville; her four grandchildren, Peter Bayo III and his wife, Cheryl; Robyn Collins and her husband, Gary; Gina Bayo; and Jeff Bayo and his wife, Debbie; her nine great-grandchildren, Peter IV, Corey and Ian Bayo; Georgia, Gary II, and Kyle Collins; Dominic, Anthony and Nicholas Bayo; her great-great grandson, Benjamin Bayo; and her many nieces, nephews and friends.

Relatives and Friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral which will be conducted on Tuesday, March 29, 2016, at 10:30 AM from the Wroblewski Funeral Home, Inc., 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11:00 AM in Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 116 Hughes Street, Swoyersville. The Reverend Joseph J. Pisaneschi, Pastor, will serve as celebrant, and the Reverend Anthony M. Urban, lifelong family friend, will serve as the con-celebrant and homilist.  

Interment with the Rite of Committal will follow in Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Cemetery, Swoyersville.

Family and Friends are invited to call on Monday, March 28, 2016, from 4:00 to 7:30 PM, at the funeral home.

For additional information or to send Mrs. Kopetchny’s family an online message of condolence, you may visit the funeral home web-site www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com.