Obituary of Helen F. Warchola

Helen F. Warchola (Fenchak) 94 September 27, 1923 - September 11, 2018, OMAHA, NEBRASKA, formerly of Fremont, Ohio and Colver, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully at Josie Harper Hospice House, Omaha, Nebraska. Born in Wehrum, Pennsylvania to Carpatho-Rusyn immigrants, Joseph and Mary (Yanuta) Fenchak, they proceeded her in death, as did her husband of 58 years, Mike Warchola. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family, proceeded in death by brothers, Joseph, John, Charles, Peter, James, and George; and sisters Annie Berkoski, Mary, Irene Popovich, and identical twin, Sophie Stormer. She is survived by her five children; Michele Koborg (Gene), Joe (Sandy), Mike, Martin (Jeanne), and Karol (Randy Penner); six grandchildren, Jacob Wetzel (Angelique), Peter Wetzel (Leanne), Natalie Wetzel, Kamille Colbert, Madeleine Colbert, and Josef Colbert; and two great-grandchildren, Zachary Wetzel and Emiline Wetzel. Helen was a homemaker and bookkeeper, raising her five children in Fremont, Ohio while working over forty years in her husband's successful plumbing and heating business. Helen and Mike had a huge garden, and when Helen wasn't keeping a spotless house or baking a batch of cookies, you could find her in the garden getting ready for canning season. Helen was always ready to help, whether volunteering as a room mother and library assistant at Stamm School, teaching kindergarteners at First Presbyterian Church, or sending hundreds of Christmas Cards to local shut-ins. When health limitations prevented her from driving, Helen continued giving to the community by crocheting thousands of lap blankets, shawls, baby blankets, booties, and hats for an untold number of nursing homes, hospice patients, and new mothers. Other than her family, Helen's loves were animals and football. She was happiest when she was cuddling anything with four legs or cheering on The Ohio State Buckeyes and Nebraska Cornhuskers. Even in her advanced years, she called plays and spotted penalties better than the announcers and referees and would put most armchair quarterbacks to shame. She was a consummate fan of the underdog, because "somebody has to root for them", which is probably why cheered for the Huskers. In her Fremont, Ohio days, her kitchen was always open and a pot of coffee was always on. She listened to many heartaches, be it those of her children, the neighbors, or other family and friends. Abundance was always shared in the Warchola household. Both Helen and Mike tried to instill this philosophy in their children. If you needed anything, all you had to do was ask, and it was given with grace. In Helen's final days, she continued to give, telling stories of her youth, shedding insight on who she was with her now grown children and grandchildren, giving them lasting memories to cherish of her dancing at Sunset to Big Joe Turner's Shake, Rattle, and Roll. Although now in her eternal home, on a clear, crisp, football Saturday, I am sure we will still hear her shouting at the television, "GO! GO! GO!" A private memorial service will be held for the family at Askew-Houser Funeral Home in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, interment at Lloyd Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations suggested to Josie Harper Hospice House, Omaha, Nebraska.