Helen Szelc

Helen Szelc May 10, 1930 - March 14, 2024 Beloved mother, grandmother, wife, sister and friend, Helen T. Szelc (Skolarus), passed away peacefully on Thursday March 14, 2024. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Richard Louis Szelc, her sister, Michaeline Drenzek (Joseph), and brothers Edward Skolarus (Wanda) and Stanley Skolarus (Julie). She is survived by her youngest brother, Frank Skolarus (Judy), her three children, Richard Szelc (Rebecca), Dr. Cynthia Kelly (Robert) and Jerome Szelc (Linda) and her six grand children, Camille Szelc, Peter Kelly (Margaret), Kathleen Kelly, Mark Kelly, Jessica Szelc and Matthew Szelc. Helen was born on May 10, 1930 in Detroit Michigan to Mary and Frank Skolarus. She was raised in a household filled with love and and faith, and she brought all of that love and faith to her own home as an adult. Helen attended St. Cunegunda, and graduated from St. Casimir’s in 1947. It was at a St. Casimir basketball game that a young college boy, Richard Louis Szelc (Dick), first laid eyes on Helen. He was instantly smitten. Dick pointed to Helen and told his friend who was sitting next to him, “You see that woman sitting there, I’m going to marry that girl.” Following the completion of his military service, Helen married that young man from the basketball game and he became the love of her life. Helen and Dick lived in Detroit and then Dearborn Heights, where Richard worked for Wayne County as the Director of the Office of Industrial and Commercial Development. They had three wonderful children together, Rick, Cindy and Jerry. Sadly, Helen lost her husband in 1983 to Legionnaires’ disease when he was only 55 years old. With her daughter still in medical school, her youngest son in college, and her heart shattered, Helen called on her faith, love and sheer force of will and got to work. Bolstered by necessity, and an innate business sense few knew she had, Helen forged a career for herself at the age of 52. She started working for Wayne County, where she had many relationships as a result of her husband’s long tenure there. She later transitioned to a position with H & R Block where she worked until she retired at 77 years old. Following retirement, she applied her skills and energy as a volunteer at Henry Ford Medical Center in the Radiology department, volunteering there until she was well into her 80’s. While Helen excelled in her work and her volunteer activities, Helen’s greatest skills and talents only revealed themselves when she acquired a new title - “Grandma.” Her abilities as a Grandmother were simply unmatched. She was tireless. Helen handled fussy, colicky babies with patience and humor when their own parents had exhausted all of their reserves. She invented endless games, and created elaborate projects for her three grandsons and three granddaughters, using her creativity and sense of fun to thrill the children while teaching them life skills. In 2017, Helen finally sold her home in Dearborn Heights where she and Dick had raised their three children, and moved to Beaumont Commons in Dearborn. She was an active member of the community at Beaumont, singing in the choir and participating in its many, fun events and excursions. Helen transitioned from independent living to assisted living following a fall in August of 2023. She was assisted by many kind and wonderful caregivers, but none more wonderful or important to Helen than Barbara Parker who has been as steadfast and dedicated as she is kind and loving. Barbara truly enriched the later years of Helen’s life. Helen was also loved and cared for through the years by her many thoughtful and loving nieces and nephews who often visited their Cioci Helen, bringing her treats and goodies including her favorite Polish dishes, and even playing “You are My Sweetheart” on the harmonica. Helen’s dear friend, Dr. Cheryl Gregorian, also was a blessing to Helen. Cheryl often referred to Helen as her “second Mother.” She visited Helen frequently, always with something she thought Helen might need or enjoy in hand. Helen touched many lives in many places in her almost 94 years on this earth, and she will be deeply missed by all of those fortunate enough to have known her. Visitation will be held at the Howe-Peterson Funeral Home in Dearborn on Thursday, March 21st, from 4:00PM to 8 PM, with the Rosary at 7:00 PM. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, March 22nd at 11:00 AM at St. Kateri Catholic Church in Dearborn, followed by a reception hosted by Helen’s family at the Social Hall at the Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Kateri Catholic Church. To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Helen Szelc, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.