Helen Plevyak

Helen was born and raised in Simpson, Pennsylvania. During the summer months of her sophomore and junior years at Fell High, she worked as a waitress at both the Flagler and Concord Hotel in the Catskills of New York. Upon graduation in 1949, she secured a job as a live-in housekeeper and nanny for a Brooklyn, New York family with 2 toddlers. After a year, she moved back home to work for General Textile Mills, where she was in charge of machines that made cords for parachutes.

In 1950, Helen was introduced to her future husband, Edward, on a blind date. Helen and Ed were married in January 1952. They settled in Maryland where Ed began employment with Harford County Public Schools and Helen set up housekeeping in their apartment in Fullerton. In 1956, Helen and Ed purchased a single-family home on Slater Avenue in Perry Hall. Over the years, Helen was kept busy as the mother of five children. She was considered the “queen of the kitchen” for her delicious home-cooked meals that always included made from scratch desserts. She and Ed also did seasonal canning of vegetables and fruits, with homemade tomato relish and bread and butter pickles as two of the family favorites. Another welcomed treat was Polish kielbasa that they made and smoked in the backyard’s smokehouse.

Helen enjoyed entertaining and was known to host many neighborhood and family get-togethers. She also enjoyed volunteering at St. Joseph’s Church’s annual chicken dinner fundraiser and serving as a poll worker during election years. Perry Hall was home for Helen and Ed for 60 years, after which they moved to Oakcrest in 2016. Helen was able to enjoy Oakcrest life with Ed for almost 4 ½ years before he passed away.

Helen is survived by her son, Joseph; four daughters: Patricia (Clay), Janet (Michael), Marie (Vince), and Arlene; two brothers: Anthony and Richard; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held from 5 to 7 pm on Friday, February 7, 2025, at Schimunek Funeral Home, Inc., 9705 Belair Road, Nottingham, MD 21236. A second viewing will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2025, starting at 10:15 am, in the vestibule of Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church (Fullerton), 8420 Belair Road, Nottingham, MD 21236 with a Mass of Christian Burial scheduled to begin at 11:00 am. Immediately after mass, family and friends are invited to both the graveside interment service in the church’s cemetery and to a luncheon in the church’s parish center. In lieu of flowers, Helen’s family wishes you to consider memorials in her name to either: Mount Saint Joseph High School, 4403 Frederick Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21229 (www.msjnet.edu/giving) or Catholic Faith Community, Oak Crest Village, 8820 Walther Boulevard, Parkville, MD 21234.