Helen Salae, John XXIII Home, Hermitage, passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning of Friday, September 16, 2011, at Sharon Regional Medical Center, when her 95 year-old heart simply gave out after a long and well-lived life.
She was born on March 6, 1916, in the small coal mining town of Trauger, Pennsylvania, to Michael and Katherine Kohut, immigrants from Czechoslovakia, being the fifth child and the first daughter among their ten children. From her wonderful mother she learned and continued to practice the virtues of hard work, faith in God, love of nature, and compassion for others.
Originally named Helena, she decided to change her name to Helen in order to be more 'American' when the family moved to Farrell in 1926. (As an adult, she so regretted making that change, thinking that 'Helena' sounded prettier and more sophisticated.) She was a bright little girl who began the fourth grade at Eckles School on Indiana Avenue, speaking broken English and well behind her classmates in reading and writing skills. Being a determined learner, a quick study, and without any help, she soon caught up and developed her life-long love of words and writing. Well into her 90's, Helen would complete the Herald's crossword puzzle each and every day and was a formidable Scrabble opponent.
She excelled in the secretarial program of Farrell High School, which led her to a long and successful secretarial career, with her first job at Westinghouse, later at various law firms in the Pittsburgh area, and finally at Westminster College. Her editing skills made many a boss appear more literate than he or she truly was.
Helen often said that she was never bored and had numerous hobbies and passions. Like many women of her generation, she loved to cook and bake - her cream puffs, manicotti, and pie crusts were legendary - but her greatest skill lay in needlecrafts. She was a gifted artist who left behind a treasure trove of finely-worked crocheted creations, handmade curtains, bedspreads, rugs, cross-stitch samplers, and colorful quilts with stitching so small and straight, one would think a machine had done it.
She is predeceased by her parents, of course, and by her husband, Edward Salae, and her beloved son, Terry. She is survived by her dear friend, Alex Alter; her daughter, Deborah (married to Edward Chmelewski); her brother, Bill Kohut; her sister, Irene Schaller; and her one and only grandchild, Kira Chmelewski, whom she adored, as well as numerous nieces and nephews who gave her so much affection and care and who will sorely miss the love and fun of being around their Aunt Helen.
Prior to moving into John XXIII Home last January, where she was very happy and where she received excellent and heartfelt care, especially from Theresa Snyder, Helen was an active member of the Church of the Good Shepherd in West Middlesex, a member of the Altar and Rosary Society there, and had years of fun socializing and working both in the quilting group and with the church caterers. She would be so pleased to have people continue her support of her church by sending a donation in her name to the Church of the Good Shepherd at the address listed below.
Calling hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Friday (9-30-11) in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 E. State Street, Sharon
Friends may email condolences by visiting www.McGonigleFuneralHomeandCrematory.com.
Mass of Christian burial will be 12:00 Noon Friday (9-30-11) in the Church of the Good Shepherd, 3613 Sharon Road, West Middlesex, with Monsignor Robert Malene, pastor, as celebrant.
Interment: St. Michael's Byzantine cemetery, Hermitage.