Hely Merle'

Hely Merle’ was born on June 19, 1936 to Nik and Anna Merle’ in Nakovo, a village in the Banat Region of what was then part of the country of Yugoslavia. The people and culture of this region became known as the “Donauschwabens”. Hely spoke of the idyllic life her parents and neighbors created in this tightknit and peaceful farming community.

During World War II in 1942, her life changed dramatically when the German Army conscripted Donauschwab men, including Nik, into serving. He was forced to leave and was to only see Anna and Hely one more time in his life. Later, as a prisoner of war, he was killed and is buried in a mass grave.

Under Tito’s communist rule, thousands of Donauschwabs were forced into labor camps or servitude, were killed, or were transported to concentration camps. Nakovo and surrounding villages were overrun. Hely’s brother, Franzi, was born during this time. In 1945, Anna, Hely, Franzi, numerous relatives, and hundreds of Donauschwabs from Nakovo were taken by cattle car trains to the Rudolfsgnad concentration camp.

Disease, starvation, and the toll of life in Rudolfsgnad was devastating and Anna died caring for Hely and Franzi. Hely made a promise to her mother to care for Franzi, but she was now an orphan and was moved, alone, to an orphanage. Franzi passed away soon after.

In the United States, Hely’s great uncle (Frank Freimann) worked through the International Red Cross to locate surviving relatives and after several years Hely was reunited with her grandmother, aunts and cousin Nik. At the age of 18, Hely emigrated to the United States and was introduced to the person that would become her guardian and whom she considered her next “father” for the rest of her life, Father Theodore Hesburgh.

Hely was enrolled at Saint Mary’s Academy where she met Michael (Tony) Schork, a student at neighboring University of Notre Dame. Hely and Tony were married and from this union had seven children: Michael, Nicholas (Nik), Peter Franz, Theodore (Ted); Jude Thaddeus (Thad); Matthew; and Anna.

Hely was a person of infinite faith and courage. Divorcing in 1983, she again was challenged with the question, “What’s next”? She drew upon all of this faith and strength, fluency in numerous languages, knowledge of Europe, and adventurous spirit and became a tremendously successful international travel agent. Over a 20+ year career, she scheduled, advised, and personally guided thousands on excursions and adventures to six continents. She immersed herself in the people and cultures of dozens of countries, with her favorites being Australia and New Zealand.

In 1998, Hely married Bruce Benner and welcomed Bruce’s children (Doug Benner and Joan Benner and families) into her life. Hely and Bruce enjoyed numerous travels and journeys. Bruce passed away in 2015.

Embracing her past and always serving others, in 1999 Father Hesburgh and Hely traveled to Kosovo as part of the United Nations High Commission on Refugees team to witness the relocation of refugees during the Kosovo War. In 2005, Hely, Peter and Anna, traveled to Nakovo for her first visit since 1945. In 2008, she and her son Ted traveled to Germany to attend a reunion of survivors of the Donauschwaben genocide.

Above all else in the world, Hely loved and cherished her family and friends and relished in laughter and gathering with them. She is survived by her seven children; Daughters-in-law Anne, Annette, Terri, Mimi, and Nik’s partner, Laura; Grandchildren Madeline, Michael, William, Andrew, Daniel and fiancé Haydee, Ryan, Ashley, Anna, Mark, Deegan, Bella, Adam, Rudy, and Marina; and Greatgrandchildren Kaelyn and Josh. She is also survived by her cousin Nik and family in Germany.

Others predeceasing Hely include her best friend, Barbara Regnier, Father Theodore Hesburgh, and numerous family members and friends in the States and in Germany.

The Schork family sincerely extends our indebtedness to those neighbors and friends who truly helped our mother “recreate” her beloved Nakovo in Ann Arbor. Your love and friendship meant more to her than you will ever know. We also send our forever gratitude to the staff at Brecon Village and Arbor Hospice.

Dearest Mom/Mutti/Grammie/Hely, through your infinite faith, unconditional love, devotion, friendship and support you more than kept your promise. Rest in peace. Cremation has taken place and a

mass to celebrate Hely’s life will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 23, 2018 at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church (530 Elizabeth St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104) where her family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. until the hour of the service. A luncheon will follow in the parish hall. In remembrance of Hely, the family requests memorial donations to The Red Cross https://www.redcross.org, Alzheimer’s Association https://www.alz.org, and Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County https://csswashtenaw.org.