Helen Lepak Dudek

AUBURN | Mrs. Helen Lepak Dudek, 89, of 36 Linn Ave., Auburn, passed away Friday, Aug. 1, 2014 at the Athenaeum, Skaneateles.

Helen was born on Nov. 9, 1925 in Auburn, a daughter of Stephen and Tilly Lepak, of Columbus Street, Auburn. She and her late husband, Emil "Dunn" Dudek, who predeceased her on June 7, 2011, have a daughter, Diane Taylor, residing in Auburn; and granddaughter, Emily Brimmer, residing in New York, NY. Her sister, Anne McDonald, of Auburn, also survives; and several nieces, nephews and grand-nieces, nephews and cousins.

Helen attended Auburn's East High School where she organized and participated in the first bowling league, before moving to Central High School. She was a member of the first graduating class of Central High School in 1941, when as a senior she was runner-up in the city-wide foul shooting contest.

In addition to bowling in high school, Helen was active in basketball, softball, volleyball, library and glee clubs. She had the lead role in her senior musical "Sunbonnett Sue" and was also the music editor of the high school year book.

Her bowling career continued after high school. For several seasons she carried the season high average of 186. Her highest single game was a 277, and she has over 200 career 600 series, with the highest being a 697 and 691 series. In 1961 she won the New York State Women's Invitational Singles Tournament in Rochester. Her mastery of bowling was demonstrated again in 1966, as she led the Utica Club Team in the New York State Association Team Championship in Binghamton.

She is a charter member of the Auburn Women's Bowling Association, and a member of the Cayuga Lanes Girls Commercial League, of which she is a former secretary/treasurer for 20 years. Helen won the first Citizen- Advertiser Women's Masters Championship in 1975. Also, an honorary member of the Auburn Men's Bowling Association Hall of Fame, she received the American Bowlers Association Hall of Fame Meritorious Service Award in 1983. She coached many teams and junior bowlers in the first Auburn league to be sanctioned with the American Junior Bowling Congress.

After her storied bowling career, Helen began a new avocation. At the close of each Auburn High School Baseball season, she compiled a scrapbook with all the newspaper write-ups and statistics of the season for each varsity player. She provided this invaluable service for 19 seasons. She was also an accomplished singer, having sung the National Anthem over the past 50 years at several Minor and Major League Baseball parks, including Falcon Park.

Helen along with the late Betty Lacey are the only two women to receive the Monsignor Straub Memorial Sports Award for the participation in Women's Sports. Helen had also enjoyed knitting and crocheting in her spare time. She had retired as a secretary from Auburn East High School.

She was predeceased by her parents, husband, brother Michael Lepak, and sisters Stella Paluda, Marion O'Brien and Alyce Petrecki.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 4, in Saints Peter and Paul Church, 132 Washington St., Auburn. Interment will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Calling hours are being held today (Sunday) Aug. 3, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Farrell's Funeral Service, Inc., 84 South St., Auburn.

Memorials may be remembered to CNY Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), 100 Metropolitan Park Dr., Suite # 400, Liverpool, NY 13088.