Obituary of Helen M. Volcko

Helen Mary Volcko, was born on April 8, 1924. Throughout her ninety-nine vibrant years of life,

she shared her charisma and kindness with her family and community in notable ways.

Helen was born in Marcellus, NY, the youngest of ten siblings, and grew up on a small farm.

Her early years helping out on her family's land nurtured a strong bond with her 6 brothers

Stanley, John, Joe, William, Andy and Henry as well as her 3 sisters Estelle, Mary and Ann.

Farming from a young age help to instill her lifelong love of gardening and food preservation.

As a young person, Helen grew up during the Great Depression and conquered many

hardships. She was a confident, capable woman, who went to business school and even

worked as a riveter, fastening the very weapons used by her brothers to fight in WWII. At the

age of 24 she married and began a family, having five children: William, Robert, Denise, James,

and Kathryn. A loving mother, Helen encouraged her children to be considerate, independent,

and frugal.

As her children grew up and had families of their own, Helen was quick to become a devoted

grandmother to her 17 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. "Grandma's house" was a

special place because of her...and her bountiful candy jar! Picking black raspberries or

asparagus from her garden, climbing the walnut trees, cross-country skiing on the golf course,

playing pool in the basement filled to the brim with antiquities, noticing rabbits in the back

thicket, patient rounds of "Go Fish", turtle pancakes, and observing her beloved bluebirds, it was

always a treat to visit her.

Helen also had a deep love of sewing and quilting and had won many ribbons at the NYS Fair

for her amazing creations.

Helen was an incredibly charitable person, who fully committed to her volunteer roles at Van

Duyne Center, St. Francis Church, the local food pantry, and Baltimore Woods. She found

community through her church, and was devoted to serving her community and sharing her love

of nature. An avid golfer, Helen played in leagues until she was in her 80s, and even scored a

hole-in-one at 70 years old! She was a prize-winning quilter and pie-maker, and her

grandchildren are lucky enough to have experienced both facets first-hand, receiving quilts,

goodies, and recipes. One recipe which will always hold her memory, is for her

golumpki-enveloping meat, rice, spices, and her Polish culture-neatly inside a cabbage leaf.

Helen shared her pride for her Polish heritage with her entire family, especially through food,

and delighted in celebrating her birthday each year at Eva's.

Helen is survived by children William (Lois), Robert, Denise (Sigmond), James (Malinda),

Kathryn (Kevin), 17 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren whom live near and far.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10am Saturday, July 22 in St. Francis Xavier

Church, Marcellus. The Rite of Committal and burial will follow at St. Francis Xavier

Cemetery, Marcellus. There will be no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a favorite charity.