Helen Jane Kowalik

Helen Jane Kowalik, a longtime resident of Chula Vista, CA peacefully passed away at the age of 93 at Grossmont Gardens in La Mesa, CA on January 30, 2026. Ms. Kowalik was born in 1932 in Ostrog, Poland to Henryk Kowalik, a Polish Army officer/accountant and Jadwiga, an elementary school teacher.

In 1940, at the age of 8, Helen became a World War II refugee. She and her immediate family was exiled to a Siberian gulag by the Soviets. After three years of living under horrific conditions they were freed under a brief amnesty and lived in various countries in refugee camps run by the Red Cross. In Siberia Helen lost her father and twin toddler siblings to illness. Then Helen, her mother and sister, Zofia became part of the Polish diaspora in search of an adopted home. These refugees traveled together to many ports on an American ship, the USS Heritage before settling in Mexico in the Santa Rosa camp near Guanajuato for a few years. In 1947 Helen immigrated into the United States. Helen came to find freedom and a new home in Chicago where she lived for the next 20 years.

In Chicago Helen finished high school and graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy . For the next 50 years Helen proudly worked as a pharmacist serving her community in healthcare in both hospital and retail settings, dispensing medication and advice to thousands of patients. In 1970 Helen moved to Chula Vista, CA and worked as a pharmacist at Bay General Hospital (now Scripps Chula Vista) for many years and later in some clinic and local retail pharmacies until she retired in 2007.

Fortunately, Helen had a long and quiet retirement in Chula Vista with her pug dogs. Throughout her life she enjoyed music. She attended concerts and plays and operas with her niece and her husband. Being able to attend a Pavarotti concert was something that Helen treasured. Helen had a weakness for sweepstakes and lotto. She enjoyed travel in her younger years and later was an armchair traveler, who loved travel programs and brochures.

Helen was a reserved and serious lady. Those of us who knew her will remember her for her kindness, generosity and strong Catholic faith.

She was a loyal friend, who maintained friendships for decades. She was a loving daughter, sister and aunt and devoted to all her family.

Helen’s memory will live on in her loving niece Ursula and her husband Tom of San Diego, her nephew Edward Witkowski, his wife Corrina and their 3 children of Dumfries, VA; niece Dr. Basia Kowalik and her 4 children of New Berlin, WI; nephew Robert Kowalik, his wife Colette, and 3 sons of Brookfield, WI and cousin Dr. Lukasz Gasiorowski, his wife Barbara and their 5 children of Poznan, Poland.

Ms. Kowalik is predeceased by her parents, Henryk and Jadwiga Kowalik; her siblings Christina, Stanislaus, Leon, Wife Mary Kowalik and Zofia; brother-in- law Adam Witkowski and nephew Henry Witkowski.

The family wants to express their heartfelt gratitude to Helen’s caregivers that kept her independent at her home for so many years and later at Westmont of La Mesa and Grossmont Gardens for their care and concern over her welfare when she could no longer be on her own.

A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday February 17, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Chula Vista followed by the internment at Glen Abbey Memorial Park at 3838 Bonita Road, Bonita CA.

Flowers will be gratefully accepted or memorial contributions in lieu of flowers can be sent to:

Eternal Word Television Network at 5817 Leeds Rd. Irondale, AL 3521–2164

1-800-447-EWTN (3086)