Helen T. Zalecki

On December 25, 2020 our precious Mother, Helen Luks Zalecki, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Her love for Christmas made it a fitting day to step into eternity to meet the King of Kings on His birthday. There she would celebrate, not only with Him, but those who have gone on before.

The tapestry of her life was woven with many colors. No matter what life presented she was always able to rise above it with her beautiful smile and graceful attitude.

Her life’s journey started on September 20th, 1926 in Toledo, Ohio. She was born into an immigrant family from Poland. Her father, Feliks, passed away when she was about three years old, leaving her mother, Leokadia, to support herself and her seven children as a seamstress.

After attending St. Adelbert’s Grade School and Woodward High School, Helen heard the rally cry for women to join the workforce to support the WW11 war effort. She dropped out of high school, lied about her age and was hired to be a “riveter” by Toledo Aircraft. Because she was so tiny, her assignment was to work inside the airplane wings. She told us stories how they left notes to the soldiers inside the planes.

After the war, she married the love of her life, Sylvester Zalecki. They established their home in Toledo where they were blessed with four children- Gregory, Gwenn, Gayle and Glenn. Her vibrant personality and gift in sales opened doors for her to be a top salesperson at LaSalle’s Department Store in Toledo, and later at Winkleman’s in Warren, Michigan where they moved in 1967. She also was a volunteer at the gift shop at South Macomb Hospital in Warren.

Helen loved people and her charismatic personality caused so many to love her. She also really, really loved shopping, jewelry, clothes & talking on the phone all night with her sisters, going to the movies and meeting with her Birthday Club at various restaurants. She was tremendously creative and loved arts& crafts and floral design. But, most of all she loved her family and her generous heart was always pouring out gifts and so much love.  

Helen was pre-deceased by her husband, Sylvester in 1980 and her eldest son, Gregory in 2012. Left to cherish her memory are son, Glenn and daughters, Gwenn Zalecki, Gayle Fetzer (Andrew), and Diane Zalecki Bertalon (Paul). Treasured grandchildren include:  Greg Zalecki, Jr. (Jessica), Kristen Suhy(Michael), Tracey Fetzer Khalid (Fahad), Andrew Fetzer, Jr. (Gracen), Megan Fetzer, Jonathon Zalecki, and Aubrey Fetzer

Precious great-grandchildren include: Claire, Melanie & Violet Suhy and Aliyah & Liam Khalid

Finally, we are ever grateful to the Lord for giving us such an incredible legacy in our Mother, as well the 94 years she was on this earth. We will forever carry her in our hearts until we meet again…