Helen E. Stanczyk

Helen E. Stanczyk, 88, of Ashton, died Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015, at the Golden Living Center – Park Place in Grand Island. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Ashton. The Rev. Marty Egging will officiate. Burial will be in the St. Francis Catholic Cemetery in Ashton. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church, with a 7 p.m. vigil service. Peters Funeral Home of Loup City is in charge of the arrangements. Mrs. Stanczyk was born on Sept. 30, 1927, on the family farm west of Farwell, the daughter of Stanley and Nellie (Krance) Kosmicki. She was united in marriage to Louie A. Stanczyk on Nov. 11, 1946, in Ashton. He preceded her in death on Aug. 12, 1997. She is survived by two sons and one daughter-in-law, Galen Stanczyk of Ashton and Russell and Tricia Stanczyk of Garland; four daughters and three sons-in-law, Marcene and Jerome Kaslon of Ashton, Colleen Ozanne of Lincoln, Lois and Lee Ryan of Topeka, KS and Jackie and John Tardy of Atlanta, GA. She also leaves to cherish her memory, 15 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Doris Kosmicki of Ashton, Tom Stanczyk of Ashton and Edmund and Adelaide Bandur of Omaha. Helen attended District No. 68 rural school, St. Francis parochial school and was a 1945 graduate of Ashton High School. As a young woman, she worked several summers at Kosmicki's Melon Stand near St. Libory. After receiving her teaching certificate, she taught at District No. 78 school near Farwell. She and Louie farmed north of Ashton until their retirement, when they moved into Ashton. Helen worked as a cook at Ed's Cafe, Rose Lane Home and the Loup City Senior Center. Also over the years she had worked at the Ravenna Creamery and Egg Plant, Cornhusker Army Ammunitions Plant, Central Nebraska Community Services in Loup City and Badura's Store in Ashton. She was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church and its Council of Catholic Women and sang in the church choir. She was also involved in the Ashton Community Club, Polish Heritage Center, Red Hat Society, Ashton High School Alumni Association and had served on the Sherman County Election Board. Helen enjoyed BINGO, scratch tickets, day bus trips, cruises, and extended travel to Poland and Alaska and collecting angels, bells and spoons. She also loved junk jaunts, gardening, polka music, baking and simply spending time with her friends and family. She devoted much of her time and energy as a caregiver to family members, including her father and husband in their later years. She had a very giving spirit and was generous and charitable to those less fortunate. Her greatest aspiration was to help people. In addition to her husband, Louie, she was preceded in death by her parents; infant son, Roger Stanczyk; son-in-law, Jim Ozanne; brother, Stanley Kosmicki, Jr. and a sister, Sylvia Jakubowski. In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials are suggested to the family's choice.