Helen Durlik Jurek , January 04, 1927 — June 01, 2018

Helen Jurek, 91 Helen Jurek, longtime resident of Center Township, passed away Friday, June 1, 2018 at Bay Bluffs of Harbor Springs, where she has been a resident for the last several years. Her family is planning to remember and celebrate her life with a private memorial service that is planned for later this week. Helen was born January 4, 1927 in the small village of Laskowa in Poland.

Her parents were Andrzej and Stanislawa (Surowiec) Durlik. Helen’s life was forever changed at the young age of 14, when during World War II, she was forcibly taken from her family and placed into forced labor in Germany in 1941. In 1945 she met a young serviceman from Northern Michigan, who was part of the US Army forces who liberated the concentration camp where Helen was held captive near Augsburg, Germany.

Helen married the love of her life Edward Jurek, on January 28, 1946 and shortly thereafter moved to begin her new life near Pellston in Center Township. Helen was the loving mother of three sons, Edward Jr., Steven, and Eugene “Butch”. She was the kind and loving grandmother to 7 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

She led her family with quiet strength, devotion and love. Her work ethic was second to none and no matter how difficult the chore, once she set her mind to a task, she wouldn’t give up until it was complete. She enjoyed a good game of bingo, a night out at the casino and of course ice cream.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband Edward Sr., and by two of her sons, Steven and Eugene “Butch” Jurek, and by her grandson Brian. Her surviving family includes her son Edward Jr. (Betty), her grandchildren, Ronald (Lori) Jurek, Christopher (Renee) Jurek, Elaine Jurek, Steven Jurek, Daniel (Sally) Jurek and Angela Jurek, and 12 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her daughter in law Thelma, and by her sisters, Zofia and Stanislawa.

Friends and family are also welcome to share memories or offer condolences online at www. stonefuneralhomeinc.com Those wishing to honor Helen’s memory through a charitable donation are asked to consider the Bay Bluffs Activities Fund.

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