Helen A. Olejko, 84, Kno-Kname Club Member

She was born November 23, 1929 in Lorain to Mike & Mary Kocak (nee Kulas) and had been a lifelong Lorain area resident.

Helen was a lifelong member of St. Stanislaus Parish in Lorain until it’s closing in 2009. She went to grade school at St. Stanislaus and high school at Lorain High, graduating with the class of 1947B. In September of 1950 she married Alex Olejko. Together they raised a loving family of 7 children; 5 daughters and 2 sons. All attended St. Stanislaus School in the family tradition. Helen was active in PTO and was a den mother for Cub Scouts. She also volunteered her time at Lorain Catholic working their Bingo program to support the school. Helen was always happy to help out at school to do whatever her children volunteered her for.

Helen remained good friends with a group of girls from high school throughout her life. The Kno-Kname Club got together on a monthly basis to play cards and share stories about life and their families. She was a member of the St. Stanislaus Altar & Rosary Society and the Cursillo. She had recently joined St. Joseph Catholic Church in Amherst.

Helen worked as a meat cutter for Fisher Foods, Meyer Goldberg and Fligner’s Market.

Helen’s husband Alex became Mayor of Lorain in January 1985. Helen took on the responsibility and duties of First Lady of Lorain and represented the city with pride at her husband’s side. Together they traveled to many cities across the country and met with other mayors and elected officials and sang the praises of their hometown. Alex was mayor of Lorain until January of 1996. Upon his retirement, they took the time to relax and enjoy their family full time.

She is survived by her children Monica Olejko of Berea, William A. Olejko of Vermilion, Patti Tyburski of Middleburg Heights, Bonni (Dan) Metelsky of Amherst, Mary Alyce “Emmy” (Jim) Woltman, Kat (Julius, Jr) Varju and Christopher Olejko, all of Lorain, 15 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, sisters Maryann Vinovich of Lorain and Barbara G. Mettler of Elyria and brother-in-law Edward Zaborniak of Lorain. She was preceded in death by her husband Alex M. “Kiki” Olejko in 2009, parents Michael and Mary Kocak (nee Kulas), brother 1st Lt John Anthony Kocak in the Vietnam War and sister Germaine Zaborniak.

The family will receive friends Monday 4-8 pm at the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Ave, Lorain. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 9:15 am in the funeral chapel followed by the mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 200 St. Joseph Dr, Amherst. The Rev. Lawrence Martello, pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Lorain.

Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of the Western Reserve, 17876 St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44110.

Online condolences can be made at www.gluvna.net.