Helen Dobrovolny

Born on October 25, 1934 in Sastinske Straze in a small farm village in Czechoslovakia, Helen lived a life full of love, kindness, and dedication to her family, friends and Lord Jesus Christ. She came to America in 1970 with her husband Mark and two sons, Tom and Mark. Both Helen and her husband were sentenced to 18 months in jail by the Czechoslovakian government after she and her family escaped the country in 1970. Leaving everything behind, Helen and family arrived in New York with two suitcases and did not speak any English.

Her strong faith and belief in living in freedom helped her to start a new life in America. Helen worked in various manufacturing facilities back in the day and over the years Helen and her husband were able to save and purchase a home in Piscataway, New Jersey. During her many years living in New Jersey, she learned how to speak English, made new friends in her community, as well as, kept in contact with the Slovak community of friends in New Jersey. Our mom was a great cook, and everybody loved her traditional Slovak dumplings (“knedels “ in Slovak) and carrot sauce and Christmas cookies. For Helen, Easter and Christmas Holidays were very special and traditional family holidays grounded in her faith.

Helen and her husband moved to Scarborough Maine so they could be closer to her sons as her husband developed Parkinson’s disease. During her 16 years living in Scarborough Helen really enjoyed living in Maine very much and she loved the community she lived in where she had very dear friends.

Helen loved going to her local church and always donated to various religious charities during her entire life. It was one of her passions.

Helen is survived by her sons Tom and Mark, grandchildren Jason and Brett, and two great- grandchildren, Charlotte and Sullivan and daughters-in-law Jane, Suzanne and Kathryn.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on January 30, 2025, at 10 am at Saint Maximilian Kolbe church in Scarborough, Maine followed by interment in Calvary Cemetery South Portland.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of Southern Maine 390 US Route One Scarborough, ME 04074 for Gosnell Memorial Hospice House.

May Helen rest in peace, forever in our hearts and memories.