Obituary of Helen Zygmunt

April 2, 1933 ~ December 2, 2023

Helen Zygmunt. Age 90 of Lincoln Park.

Beloved wife of the late Edward Zygmunt. Loving mother of Barbara (Paul) Lheureux, Edward Jr. (Sharon) Zygmunt, the late Ann DePaulis and the late Nancy Alkewich. Cherished grandmother of 9 and great grandmother of 4.

Family Tribute

Helen Zygmunt, of Lincoln Park, passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on the morning of Saturday, December 2nd, 2023. She was preceded in death by Edward Zygmunt Sr., her husband of 65 years, and by her daughters, Ann DePaulis (John) and Nancy Alkewich (the late Raymond). She is survived by her daughter Barbara L’Heureux (Paul) and her son Edward Zygmunt Jr. (Sharon). She is also survived by her nine grandchildren and her four great-grandchildren. Helen was the youngest of twelve children born to Andrew and Anna Basala, and was the last surviving of her siblings.

Helen was a devout Catholic who prided herself on her church attendance and in later years, when it was difficult for her to leave her home, could be found watching mass on television. Her favorite hymn was Ave Maria and playing it never failed to bring a tear to her eye, and subsequently, to anyone sitting next to her. She demonstrated her commitment to her faith and to the teachings of Jesus as a member of the Christian Mothers, as a volunteer for the American Red Cross and as the natural caregiver that everyone knew her to be.

Helen was the matriarch of the Zygmunt family, a title that she took immense pride in, serving as organizer and host of all family celebrations and especially holidays. Christmas Eve at Helen’s home was the event of the season, and she planned an evening that began with Oplatki (or Christmas Wafers, which symbolize the unity of family) and a blessing for everyone as they arrived. This was followed by dinner and Christmas carols, where she would deliver the show-stopping “Five Golden Rings” in the Twelve Days of Christmas, a call-back to her days singing in the church choir. The festivities would continue until she decided that she had enough of the hosting duties for the night, and would cheerfully invite her guests to head their separate ways.

Helen’s children remember her fondly for the way she took care of them as they grew up and for the values she instilled in them, a commitment to family and to taking care of one another. She loved her late husband Edward dearly, and their steady and nurturing relationship served as the example that her children (and their children!) grew to appreciate as the gold standard of how marriage and relationships should be. Her grandchildren additionally remember her for the candy drawer and pop fridge that she always kept stocked, as well as the games she would play with them, and they couldn’t have asked for a better bingo caller than their grandma.

Summer days will always bring back memories of Helen, enjoying time in her garden, surrounded by the purple lilacs she loved so much, holding the hand of her husband Edward and looking with pride upon the family that they created and loved so very much. She will live forever in our hearts and her memory will always be a comforting and warm blessing for those who were fortunate enough to have known and loved her.