I will see you again one day Grandma. I Love You

I Love you Grandma, and you are missed very much.

To the Czarnaski family:

I always enjoyed visiting with both Ben and Helen.  After your fathers passing, I continued to visit with your mother from time to time.  I know how much she missed him and how she looked forward to seeing him again.   

Helen always made Mike and I feel like part of the family.  I think she and I could talk about anything.  We loved her sense of humor.  Her kind, gentle words and the faith she had in God gave us great encouragement.  No matter what she was going through, she had tremendous faith and always looked to the Lord for her comfort.  

She was always faithful in praying for me, Mike and the girls and her great-grandchildren.  She truly loved the Lord and certainly was an example to others.  

The Czarnaski family will be in our thoughts.  We know you have suffered a tremendous loss and will keep you in our prayers.

Helen, I will miss you my friend but know we will meet again.  

Mike and Cindy Mac Runnel

Dear Czarnaski Family,

You are in my thoughts and prayers during this time.  I remember your mother very fondly, and I know my parents really treasured her friendship.

Carolyn O'Hara

Mrs. Czarnaski:

You shall always remain in my heart as someone who always stepped in to be our "second" mom when it was needed! Those of us who were friends of your children were always made to feel like we were part of your family. You will be missed BUT I know you will be watching after all of us, as you did in life now you can do in heaven! Love and our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this time.
Always
Joey & Kevin Seiger-Cottoms

My Grandma was a strong and wonderful woman. She helped me through the most difficult times of my life. She will be missed but knowing that she is with my Dad, Grandpa, and my daughter, gives me some comfort.

As we prepare for the gathering to celebrate the life of my mother, Helen Margarite Czarnaski, I remain in awe as we have reflected on the many great memories of her time with us.  Her strength. perseverance, and unconditional love., she has made me the women, wife, and mother I am today.  She has taught me and my entire  family  the true meaning of forgiveness and grace  and that all things work together for the will of God.   She was the main stay of our family, - my children swore she had a force field of  protection  around her and her light shines from within all of us.  For someone who's body didn't allow many of the physical things she would have liked to have done she never let her handicaps get in her way. Every physical challenge, illness, and heart ache that would bring her pain she would always gain comfort for knowing that she was growing spiritually stronger in her relationship with God.

She was consider legally blind  so her  seeing was not always that clear.  She made sure she led us where ever  we needed to go even when we got off track. We  had so many opportunities given to us and looking back what blessings and sacrifices  both my parents gave everyone of  us.   One of my favorite memories  with her would be  walking down from Alice Ct to Annandale Rd to catch the bus to go to 7 Corners to shop at  Woolworths or Woodies.  My siblings and I would fight over the back seat of the bus and pulling the chain for the bell to "ding "for the bus to stop.  If we behaved,  we could go to Fanny Mae for a candy, Maryann and I loved the meltaways.  And she would tell us of stories when she was young taking the bus into DC to see the .05 picture shows.  She  made sure we all knew how to use the bus system and transfers to get places  and shop for that bargain.   She was well known in the community, and always getting out and being involved.   She volunteered in the local political arena  , a Girl Scout leader and Coordinator, chaperoned with the FCHS Band and  involved the Broyhill Park Civic Association.  She fought diligently to preserve the  Broyhill Park  area and the natural resources around it and  instrumental in keeping area off route 50 it's historical value when Fairview Parkway was being constructed.  And if that wasn't enough after raising her 7 children she was a successful entrepreneur as a Shaklee Distributor. 

We have many great memories too  of our many  camp adventures not only with family but will friends in Girls Scouts.   She was a very skilled camper and made sure we could survive and enjoyed the outdoors as much as she did.   We  had camped so many places, believe she enjoyed the Shenandoah Valley the best  ( Sky line drive, Elizabeth Furnace  and Todd Lake) and we will always remember our Florida trip.   We have plenty of wild stories and she will always be our  nature "reality star"!

Mom  was diagnosed with MS in August 1978. my father and  I learned of her diagnosis at the end of Band Camp at Orkney Springs. Not knowing anything about MS back then, I didn't know how long we would have together, I certainly didn't think this long.  I am very grateful since we know we have lost others way too soon.  I know she was an inspiration for my sisters Leanne,Linda, Karen  and many others  with MS which gives me strength and hope for all of us to try and emulate.
 
She used her faith to get through circumstances, with such a large family the trails certainly were many.  She would accept them and surge forward, and  was so accepting of everyone and thing we brought home.   cat's, dogs. rabbits gerbils., boys, girls.    All  7 of us with our different personalities and wants.     She loved us all dearly and we will keep our spiritual blessing from her  and  keep it growing. --12 grandchildren and 12 great children  and counting?   
 
She lived  the last part of her her life through all of us, taking  great joy in all our accomplishments. She found pleasure in simple things in life.  listening a good book,  music or watching a cooking show  or movie.  I will always cherish the times of our bedside chats about nothing important or a funny joke she would tell if things got too serious   

 She endured so much physically, as well as, the lose of her parents, many friends, unborn children, her beautiful son and daughter Leanne & Michael and husband  Ben, who have all gone before her.  They are all now rejoicing and so are we as we celebrate her life.  Her only hope for those she leaves behind is that we come and find peace too. 

The Lord wants  everyone to be in need of Him and  have that purpose in our life.  He is Holy,  the Lord of Heaven and Earth, and only through Him , JESUS CHRIST can we have the  peace and rest we desire, as I know she has now.  I can only Imagine, I love and will miss you Mom.  

Thank you to all our wonderful friends, especially to those in Northern Virginia,  we have known so many many years in the Broyhill Park and Falls Church area you are our extended family and have so blessed us.   Thank you  for  your thoughts and prayers for comfort, our family greatly appreciates your kindness.

God Bless

Mrs. Czarnaski, you had a lasting impact on my life, as the mom of a wonderfully big family, as my Girl Scout leader, & someone we always knew we could count on in the neighborhood. Rest in peace, you've earned your wings.

Love,
Bev Tucker Schaeffer

OBITUARY

Helen M Czarnaski

November 3, 1931 – January 6, 2013

National Funeral Home & Memorial Park

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