Helen T. Kozloski, 80, Trained Classical Soprano

She was born in Lorain on February 16, 1926 and had been a life-long resident of the city.

Helen was a graduate of Lorain High School as a member of the Class of 1944-B. Already regarded as a talented and gifted vocalist during her youth, her passion for vocal music was advanced in high school where she participated as a member of the A Cappella Choir at Lorain High. She later studied voice in Cleveland for more than five years as a classical soprano, which led to an audition with a classical voice instructor in New York City. She made countless appearances in locally-produced musical productions in which she was often times spotlighted as the featured soprano. Mrs. Kozloski also played the lead role in the musical Around the Town opposite Edward Chonko in the male lead.

Due to her vocal prowess, Helen was in demand as a soloist for both weddings and funerals throughout Lorain County; it was estimated that she performed at more than two hundred such events throughout her lifetime. She was also active in local church choirs functioning as lead vocalist at the celebration of weekly and holiday services in her home parish of Holy Trinity Church as well as Saint Joseph Church and the Catholic Church of Saint Peter, all in Lorain. It was while singing in the church choirs that she sang as the partner of Lorain tenor Robert “Bob” Nagy who went on to perform professionally with the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York City and around the World for more than twenty years.

She was also a regular performer at Mary Lee Tucker Fundraiser Shows sponsored by The Lorain Journal to help needy families during the Christmas Season.

In her earlier days, she competed annually in sprint and dash events at track meets in Cleveland and Lorain which were sanctioned by the Slovak Catholic Sokols Lodges. As an adult, she developed an interest in league bowling ultimately earning her a total of four trophies for bowling on two championship teams, bowling the highest series, along with the Good Sportsmanship Award.

She was a parishioner of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Lorain as well as a member of its Altar & Rosary Society. She was a past parishioner of Saint Joseph Catholic Church.

Helen had been formerly employed in the administrative offices of the former National Tube Company and its successor - the United States Steel Corporation of Lorain. She also had been employed as a member of the office staff at the Ted Jacobs Stores which were a prominent women’s apparel enterprise operating throughout greater Lorain.

Mrs. Kozloski accompanied her husband, long-time Lorain Journal sports editor and sportswriter Henry “Hank” Kozloski, to numerous Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Indians games while he was covering them and also spent many springs in Tucson, Arizona during spring training and Cactus League play between 1965 and 1982.

In addition to her husband of fifty-one years she leaves behind her sister Mary Ann Hentges of Lorain. She was preceded in death by her parents John and Anna (nee Straka) Bors, by her brother John Bors, and sister Anna Bors.

Friends may call Thursday from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel – 3224 Broadway Avenue – Lorain where a rosary service will be conducted by officers and members of the Holy Trinity Altar & Rosary Society at 4:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be Friday beginning with closing prayers offered at 9:30 in the funeral chapel to be followed by the celebration of her funeral mass at 10:00 a.m. in Holy Trinity Catholic Church – 2428 Elyria Avenue – Lorain. The Reverend David A. Novak, pastor of Holy Trinity Church will officiate. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery – Lorain.

Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Catholic Church – 2428 Elyria Avenue – Lorain, OH 44055 or the Cleveland Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Foundation – 12200 Fairhill Road–Cleveland, OH 44120.