Helen M. Volock was born September 25, 1921 to Anna and Anthony Popiel in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY. She passed to everlasting life on October 25, 2018 at the age of 97. Helen is survived by her brother, John Popiel and her sister-in-law Clare as well as nieces Denise Jackson of Wallkill, Joann Laprise of Walden, Jacquelyn Vero and her husband Nicholas of Manorville, NY and their cousin Eddie Lyczkowski of Wallkill.
Helen is also survived by nephew Michael Stevens and his wife Beth of Arlington, VA, nieces Kathleen Stevens and Diane and husband Ed Budd of Dunedin, FL, as well as numerous grandnieces and grandnephews. She was predeceased by her husband Stanley Volock; her parents, Anna and Anthony Popiel; her sisters Josephine Popiel and Stella Stevens and brother-in-law LeRoy Stevens and their daughter Patti Billowitz. Helen will be remembered most for her dedication to her parents, especially her mother.
She was the firstborn daughter of two Polish immigrants who were sent by their own parents at age 19 to America for a better life. Soon after her birth in Brooklyn, Helen and her parents moved to Ulster County, NY to join relatives who had a farm in Galeville, a former hamlet, north of the hamlet of Wallkill. Their hard work eventually lead them to purchase their own farm in the hamlet of Wallkill.
Her father, Tony, got a job in the local hat factory and worked there days while Helen and her mother Anna tended the dairy farm and vegetable garden. At a very young age, Helen was taking on the responsibility of looking after her two younger sisters and baby brother John. Helen taught herself to read and write Polish.
She was smart and intelligent, and loved going to school. She was the valedictorian of her High School graduation class. Helen chose not to continue her education but instead was devoted to helping her parents on the farm while also working a full time job as a seamstress in a garment factory in Walden from where she retired.
On April 14, 1956 she married her husband Stanley. Helen was a parishioner of the Most Precious Blood Church in Walden. For many years she was an active member of the Walden Garden Club and won recognition for her beautiful landscaping of her Walden home.
She continued growing the flowers she loved and vegetables when she moved back to her parent’s farm with her mother, sister Josey and cousin Eddie after her husband Stanley passed. She was a good cook, baker and enjoyed canning her homegrown fruits and vegetables. Not only was Helen bright, she was an amazing storyteller and would surprise you with her spontaneous wit.
Her beautiful presence will be missed by all of her loved ones. Visitation will be 2-5pm on Sunday, October 28, 2018 at the Wallkill Funeral Home, 12 Bonaventura Ave. , Wallkill, NY 12589 A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, October 29th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Benedict’s Chapel in Wallkill.
Burial to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Montgomery, NY.
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