Helen Katrencik

Helen Katrencik, 100, of Houston, passed away peacefully Monday morning, August 18, 2025, in her home with her beloved family by her side. She was born on January 19, 1925, in Bulger, a daughter of the late Benedict and Mary Baleviciene Urban. Helen lived her life in the Hendersonville and Houston areas and was a faithful Christian Mother member of Miraculous Medal Church of St. Oscar Romero Parish in Meadowlands. She was well known at the Chartiers Houston Community Library where she had been employed as an assistant librarian, retiring at age 87, after over 30 years of service. She enjoyed doing embroidery, telling stories from family history and going to yard sales and flea markets, where she collected teacups, Little Golden Books and items that caught her fancy. Helen was an active choral member of the Pittsburgh area's Lithuanian Club and helped further her children's education. Her travels began when she was in Hendersonville's elementary school and teacher, Miss Flaherty, took Helen and fellow students to Washington D.C. for an AAA sponsored gathering of student patrol members. The Hendersonville troop was honored as likely the first in Pennsylvania to include female students, and they led the student patrol parade viewed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Helen's adventures later in life included three trips to Lithuania, where she visited family; visits to Canada, Boston, Cape Cod and Chicago, where she performed in ethnic Lithuanian costume with the Lithuanian Club chorus; and a cross-country train trip from San Francisco. Faith in God was evident in Helen's devotion to Virgin Mary. She prayed every day for the well-being of her family, and in her younger days had attended Sunday school until her wedding day in 1945. In her last months, Helen viewed Mass from a laptop computer at bedside. Left behind to cherish her memory are her devoted children: Joseph Katrencik Jr. and his wife, Victoria, Catherine Renko and her husband, William, Jerry and Jeffrey Katrencik, all of Houston; Helen's Goddaughter and niece, Susan Rybacki; three grandchildren: Jesse (Cassandra), Emily (William) and Anne; four great-grandchildren: Benjamin, Andrew, Dale and Leia; and several nieces and nephews. Deceased are her husband, Joseph Katrencik Sr., who died in 1979; brothers: Joseph, Stanley and John Urban; sisters: Ann Zadakis, Mary Stroud, Veronica Strnisha and Josephine Rybacki. Friends and family are welcome from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, August 24, at Salandra Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc., Joseph P. Salandra, LFD, owner / supervisor, at 304 West Pike Street, Canonsburg, 724-745-8120, where departing prayers will be recited at 9:30 a.m., Monday, August 25. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church of St. Oscar Romero Parish, Meadowlands. Interment will follow in Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Peters Township. To view or extend condolences, please visit www.salandrafunerals.com.