Helen R. (Dominski) Michalik, 96, of Hillside died peacefully at home on Nov. 22.
Born on the family farm in Schuylkill Haven, Pa., on June 4, 1923, Michalik was a daughter of the late Joseph and Genevieve, nee Jędrzejówski, Dominski, was raised in Schuylkill Haven and graduated from Schuylkill Haven High School in 1941.
In 1947, she graduated from the Northeastern Hospital School of Nursing in Philadelphia. As a registered nurse, she worked at Northeastern Hospital, the Jersey City Medical Center and in other private duty assignments.
In 1948, she married Benjamin A. Michalik, a professor of economics at St. Peter’s University in Jersey City and at Fordham University in the Bronx, N.Y. and relocated to Jersey City, where she resided for 14 years. For the last 57 years, she was a resident of Hillside, where she was a communicant of St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church. Active in her parish, she had been a member of the Altar Rosary Society, the St. Catherine School Booster Club and the St. Catherine Seniors and volunteered her services as a registered nurse at St. Catherine School and on the parish bookkeeping team. For many years, Helen was a leader of the “St. Catherine Handicrafters,” a group of dedicated women who raised thousands of dollars annually in support of the parish school through the creation and sale of handcrafted quilts, ornaments and other crafts featured at an annual “Holiday Boutique.”
When illness restricted her mobility in her recent years, she stayed active in her faith by participating in the broadcasted daily Mass on EWTN, was dedicated to the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet and welcomed the weekly visits from Eucharistic minister Mary Ann Imbriaco and her pastor, the Rev. Aurelio Yanez Gomez. Descended from Polish nobility on her paternal side, Michalik listening to audio books on Polish and American history when her vision weakened and was a devoted fan of FoxNews.
In addition to her beloved husband Ben, who passed away in 2002, preceding her in death were her parents, five brothers: Edward Damanski, Floyd Dominski, Dr. Anthony Dominski, Henry T. Dominnski and Joseph Dominski; and seven sisters: Josephine Marek Norris, Genevieve Kozumbo, Frances Lazur, Claire Dominski, Elizabeth Dominski, Cecilia Dominski and Esther Brady.
She is survived by children: Geraldine (Andrew L. Sinn), Cecilia (Charles Greer, Jr.), Andrew (Barbara Michalik) and Joseph as well as her granddaughter, Amelia Michalik, and grandson Alexander Michalik. Helen is also survived by many nieces and nephews including Rose Marie and Joseph Wajszczuk, who assisted in her medical care.
The Growney Funeral Home, 1070 North Broad Street in Hillside, NJ 07205 (908)-289-0400, is handling funeral arrangements. Family and friends are invited to call from 4 p.m. to 8p.m. on Friday Nov. 29, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday Nov. 30, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Catherine of Sienna Church, 1000 North Broad Street in Hillside. Interment will follow at Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City.
In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to the Michalik Memorial Scholarship at St. Peter’s University, 2642 Kennedy Blvd., Jersey City, NJ 07306, or the Michalik Memorial Scholarship at St. Peter’s Preparatory School, 144 Grand St., Jersey City, NJ 07302. Condolences to the family can be made at growneyfuneral.com
