Helen Jean Kolakowski nee Wincik passed away peacefully at home in Munson Township, Ohio on February 4th, 2022 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Helen was born December 25th, 1923 in Cleveland, Ohio to Frances and John Wincik, and grew up on the family farm on Kellogsville Road in Ashtabula County with her brother and four sisters. She did her part for the war effort working at Ward Products in Ashtabula, then in 1950 Helen met Leonard Kolakowski at a dance, and they enjoyed 44 years of married life together.
The family will always remember mom for her love of animals, especially those that always seemed to need a little extra love and attention. Her hobbies included baking Ashtabula’s best chocolate chip cookies, nut roll, and apple pies, and she also enjoyed sewing and gardening. She loved polka music and dancing and always said that the band was good if they had a good accordion player.
Helen is survived by sons Michael (Christine) Kolakowski of Virginia Beach, and Mark of Munson Twp., daughter Debbie (Arnie) Penksa of Chesterland, and sister Elsie Fiala of Conneaut. She has four grandchildren Sara (Ken) Powell, A.J. Penksa, Katie (Jake) Birkett and David Kolakowski, and three great-grandchildren, Danny, Lily and Finn. She was preceded in death by her parents John and Frances Wincik , her husband Leonard, her sisters Emily Licate, Jessie Simak, Theresa Wincik, and her brother Bernard “Benny”.
The family would especially like to extend their gratitude and appreciation to the Hospice of the Western Reserve, and to the capable and caring staff of Home Instead Senior Care.
A Funeral service will be held at Guerriero Funeral Home 1550 West 19th St. in Ashtabula, Ohio on Tuesday February 8th at Noon . Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will also be Tuesday morning from 10:30 till Noon. Condolences can be made at guerrierofuneralhome.com .
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