Helen (nee Kollar) Slezak

Helen (Kollar) Slezak of Cleveland, Oh., Seven Hills, Oh. and Valley Forge, Pa. passed away on June 16, 2020. She is survived by her two children Mark (Kathy) and Sharon (Randall) Gurak and her three grandchildren Matthew, Nina, and David. She is predeceased by her husband, Rudolph Slezak and her brother, John Kollar.

Helen grew up in Ohio and graduated from John Hay High School, where Helen met her sweetheart Rudolph Slezak. They were married before he was deployed to serve in World War II. Persistent despite obstacles, she finished school and joined the workforce. She raised a family while excelling at White Motor Company. She could type 110 words per minute on an old manual typewriter and rose in the ranks to be an executive assistant to company leadership. After the family's move to Seven Hills, she became an office manager for W.T. Grant Co. in Parma. In addition to her work accomplishments, Helen was a talented cook and baker (to match her voracious sweet tooth) and crafter, designing all kinds of home projects and making hundreds of Christmas ornaments, which still hang proudly on many Christmas trees. Helen was also a lover of dance and music and would pass on a number of hit Polka tunes and a love of dancing to everyone in her life.

After retirement, Helen moved to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania to live with her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter. While in Pennsylvania, Helen made the difficult transition from Cleveland sports teams to the Philadelphia Phillies. Even as she struggled with her vision, she would be quick to note bad umpire calls and the tiny scoreboard at the top of the screen. She also began traveling with the family, taking trips to tropical resorts and even climbing the St. Louis Arch and witnessing the beauty of the Grand Canyon and Hawaii. She will be sorely missed.

Friends received 9:30 – 10:30 AM FRIDAY June 19 at the HOPKO FUNERAL HOME 6020 BROADVIEW RD (S OF SNOW RD) PARMA followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11a.m. at St Columbkille Church 6740 Broadview Rd Parma. (Social distancing and masks required at funeral home and church). Interment Holy Cross Cemetery.