HELEN M.U. BLAHA

Helen Marie Uzel Blaha passed away on Sept. 23, 2012 at the age of 90.

She lived in Dinwiddie County most of her life and most recently in Prince George. Helen was the fifth of eight children born to Charles and Caroline Uzel. Growing up in a loving family on a farm in the strong Czech community taught her lifelong habits of generosity, caring, hard work, humility and frugality.

Helen was a natural cook who learned traditional Czech dishes at her mother's knee. Bringing together meals for large family gatherings came natural to her. Friends and family were always the beneficiaries of delicious treats, jellies and frozen vegetables to take home. But most of all, Helen will be remembered for her selfless generosity and consideration of others.

She was a long time employee of Brown & Williamson.

Helen married James (Jimmie) Blaha in 1943. They had four children, Jim, Charlotte, Barbara and Marty. Helen had four grandchildren, Amber Blaha, Jeffrey Williams, Kelsey Bottoms and Audrey Staples, and two great-grandchildren, Cecilia and Owen Berger. Helen's surviving siblings are Alice Peterson, Frances Sebera and Albert Uzel.

Helen was a devout Catholic and was a member of St. John's Catholic Church in Dinwiddie and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Prince George.

A Christian wake service will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, at the Petersburg Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son, followed by visitation until 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. John's Catholic Church. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. A reception will be held at the church hall after the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bon Secours Hospice & Palliative Care, 8580 Magellan Parkway, Richmond, VA 23227. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com.