Helen Silkowski

Helen (Kokinda) Silkowski, 98, of Hazleton, formerly of Barnesville, passed away peacefully Friday, July 29, at St. Luke's Manor, Hazleton. Helen had most recently been a resident of the Laurels Senior Living Community since April.

Helen was born in Hazle Brook, a daughter of the late Peter and Anna (Kravchik) Kokinda. She grew up on a farm in Drums and later moved with her family to Hazleton Heights. In 1953, she married Bronislaw (Ben) Silkowski and together they raised their family in the Park Crest section of Barnesville. She was employed in various shirt factories at different times in her life. Helen was proud of her work in a Bethlehem Steel Factory in support of the war effort.

Helen was predeceased by her husband, Ben, in 1978 and special needs daughter, Teresa, for whom she was an untiring advocate, in 2019; and the following brothers and sisters, George, John, Anna Elichko, Mary Cherko, Margaret Chulock and Pauline Pollick.

Helen is survived by her three sons, Bernard Silkowski and wife, Mary, Centerburg, Ohio, Peter Silkowski and wife, Mary Kay, Clarksville, Tennessee, and Joseph Silkowski and wife, Wanda, Spring, Texas; brother and sisters, Julia Simko, Clark, N.J., Catherine Burcin, Bluffton, S.C., Peter Kokinda, Lawrenceville, Georgia; eight grandchildren, Joseph, Anne, Thomas, Catherine, Alexander, Molly, Katharine and Peter; six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

A woman of immense faith, Helen was a member of St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church, Hazleton. She would like to be remembered as someone who loved the Lord who led her through the challenges in her life and helped her get stronger, loved all of life and God's gifts, loved her family and was forgiving of everyone.

The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 5, at St. Mary's B.C. Church, 227 E. Beech St., Hazleton, with Divine Liturgy with Office of Christian Burial. Interment to follow in St. Casimir's Cemetery, Mahanoy City. Friends and relative may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Frank J. Bonin Funeral Home Inc. Parastas will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday. In lieu of flowers, Helen has asked for donations to St. Mary's B.C. Church or another Catholic church, a local chapter of The Arc, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation for improving lives through advocacy and research or Goodwill Industries of Northeast Pa.