Helen Schroko

Port Jervis, NY

Helen Schroko of Port Jervis, NY died Saturday, July 19, 2008 at St. Joseph's Nursing Home. She was 100.

Helen was born September 13, 1907 in Bremen, Germany, the daughter of Johann and Beka Kossen Schroeder. She came to America on the steamboat "George Washington" with her sister, Gesine, and brother-in-law, Joseph Greisch, and immigrated through Ellis Island on July 10, 1923. She married Reynold Schroko January 26, 1930 in Brooklyn, NY. During the 1940's and 50's they owned and ran a luncheonette in Manhattan and a delicatessen in Brooklyn. Reynold died May 2, 1968 after nearly 20 years of health complications. In 1991, Helen left her friends of Glendale, Queens, and moved to Port Jervis where she lived near her daughter's family, in her own apartment, until shortly after her 100th birthday.

In her later years the high point of Helen's day would be to go for "a little drive" and see the lovely scenery in the area around Port Jervis. She raised beautiful African Violets and enjoyed feeding and watching birds from her kitchen window.

Even though Helen will be missed by those who remain, we are comforted to know Helen is now with her family and her husband whom she has missed for 40 years.

Survivors include her daughter, Rosalind Hesleitner of Port Jervis, NY; grandson, Paul & his wife Annette Hesleitner of Massapequa, NY; grandson, Mark Hesleitner of Port Jervis, NY; granddaughter, Marlene & husband Ronald VanHouten of Dingman's Ferry, PA, and great-grandson, John Hesleitner of Massapequa, NY.

She was predeceased by her two sisters, Gesine and Annie; a brother Heinz, and a son-in-law Howard.

There will be no visitation.

Helen will be buried next to her husband in The Lutheran Cemetery, Middle Village, Queens.

Memorial contributions may be made to either St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 31 W. Main St., Port Jervis, NY 12771 or St. Joseph's Nursing Home, 160 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY 12771.