Helen (Mikita) Czlonka

Helen (Mikita) Czlonka, age 94, peacefully passed into heaven on August 24. She was preceeded in death by her loving husband Chester, her parents Michael and Antonina (Gubarewicz ) Mikita, her brothers George, Peter, Walter, John and Fred. She is survived by her daughter Diane (Mark) Makower, son Robert (Pamela) Czlonka, granddaughter Hollie Czlonka, grandson Matthew (Kristie) Czlonka, great grandson Brixton Czlonka and many nieces and nephews. Helen was born in Grand Rapids to parents who emigrated from Russia. Her parents were co-founders of St John’s Chrysostom Russian Orthodox Church. She grew up within that Russian Orthodox community. When she married Chester, she converted to Catholicism and they became long standing members of St. James Catholic Church. Together, Helen and Chester led an active life. They were devoted parents deeply involved in the lives of their children and their families. Throughout the 70 years of marriage, their home served as the gathering place for family, friends, neighbors and the friends of their kids and grandkids. They loved music, dancing (especially the polka), entertaining family and friends, gardening, boating, travel and West Side Seniors Bingo. They enjoyed watching U-M and Lions football and Tiger baseball. For 50 years, Helen worked as a bookkeeper/accountant for Professional Management. During that time, she also managed the finances and scheduling for Chester’s business – The Grand Rapids Movers. She supported her husband’s deep involvement in the Veteran’s community. She served as county Treasurer for the Catholic War Veterans ladies auxiliary. During her retirement, she served as a volunteer for the Veteran’s Home, the Blood Center and served as an election monitor for 16 years. After the loss of her husband in 2019, Helen moved to an apartment in Covenant Living of the Great Lakes and courageously embarked on rebuilding her life within that welcoming community. She enjoyed the new friends she met and benefited greatly from the support she received from the staff in their residential living environment. Her family strongly appreciates the support she received as her health declined over the past month. In particular they acknowledge the extraordinary support from Connie Wysocki RN of Great Lakes Residential Living Center, Mindy Ramirez, care giver from Acti-Kare, and the team from Emmanuel Hospice. Helen will be deeply missed by her family and friends who loved and admired her. She will be remembered for her courageous spirit, unstoppable energy, loving attention, generosity and the joy she brought to all of us. An important part of the legacy she is leaving to her family – those wonderful family dinners she so skillfully produced. Sadly, her family regrets the limits placed on memorial services because of the pandemic. Her Mass of Christian Burial must be confined to immediate family. There will be a gathering planned for her friends to celebrate the life she so well lived once the pandemic subsides. Memorial contributions in Helen’s honor may be made to Covenant Living of the Great Lakes - Residential Living Activities Program and Emmanuel Hospice of Grand Rapids.

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Helen (Mikita) Czlonka

November 16, 1925 - August 24, 2020