Helen Zwarych
Died: Sep 10, 2013
Helen Nykun Zwarych, age 92, a life-long resident of Great Meadows, NJ passed away on September 10, 2013 after a long illness. She had been living with her loving daughter and care-giver, Nancy Falcone for the past year.
Helen was born July, 5, 1921 in Nykun’s General Store, built by her parents Andrew Nykun Sr. and Mamie Nykun. It is still a legendary family owned landmark in Great Meadows, NJ. With her late husband Nicholas Zwarych, they lived their entire life only a few feet away from her birth place in the house they built next door. They raised three successful and loving children Thomas Zwarych of Port St. Lucie, FL, Robert Zwarych of Cleveland, TN and Nancy (Zwarych) Falcone of Newburgh, NY. Helen is survived by her children, their spouses, six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Helen was without a doubt one of the most renowned and well respected senior citizens in town. Described by many as a “fixture” in the community and lovingly addressed by her many friends and acquaintances as “Mrs. Z”, “Aunt Helen” and “Mrs. Independence”. Nothing in Great Meadows got past Helen’s scrutiny and opinion. Loved by all who knew her, she was active in the small close-knit community her entire life. During her earlier years she was a Cub Scout Den Mother and was also a Room Mother for Central Elementary School classrooms attended by her children. She was a Treasurer for the local school PTA and also served as Treasurer for Independence Township. She was appointed to the County Board of Elections. She was a lifetime member of the St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church. This was a church built in large part by her father Andrew and mother Mamie, who donated the land next to their store so that a Ukrainian church could be built. Their daughter, Helen could often be seen cooking, cleaning or peeling potatoes in preparation for the church dinners, festivals and famed perrogie sales. As a young adult, she loved to dance and would often be kicking up her heels to the polka bands that played regularly in her area. As a child and teenager, she worked in the general store and later part-time at “Andy’s” the family vegetable stand with her mother and father. After the WW II, like many of her girlfriends at the time, she was swept off her feet by her persistent suitor and now late husband Nicholas. She greatly loved and admired this hard-working, no nonsense kind of man who served several terms as mayor of Independence Township. Having lived in Great Meadows her entire life, she is most remembered by the community as the first and founding Director of the Independence Township Senior Center in Great Meadows, a position she loved and proudly held for 21 years, retiring when she was 80 years old. Helen had a unique ability and the special skills necessary to serve the senior community. She planned bus trips, organized holiday meals, senior games, activities and held health fairs. She invited distinguished health professionals, politicians, tax experts and guests to speak on topics important to the senior citizens of Warren County. If Helen was your friend, you knew she was a friend for life and treated you like family. Always willing to lend a hand, she was a special woman and will be sadly missed by her family and all who knew her.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High St. Hackettstown, NJ (908) 852-3361. A gathering of friends and relatives is scheduled for 11am – 1:00 pm at Cochran’s and will conclude with a brief memorial service on Saturday, September 28, 2013. A Repast will be held at the Independence Township Senior Center, Rt. 46 Great Meadows NJ after the service. Burial will be held privately with family. Helen has respectfully requested that in lieu of flowers, that her beloved friends and family make contributions in her name to the Independence Fire Department. Online condolences may be given at www.cochranfuneral.com.
Condolences:
Marvin Hopkins
#1
September 22nd, 2013 6:45 am
Sending you my sincere condolences on your loss. Mrs. Zwarych was a lovely person who I remember from my childhood.
*