Obituary: Helen Racsko

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Helen Racsko
Helen Racsko

Helen Racsko, lived a wonderful life and died peacefully on June 3, 2016 at Elant at Fishkill in Beacon, N.Y., with her loving family by her side. She was 99 years old.

Helen was born Jan. 25, 1917 and had been a New York resident all of her life. So often she would tell stories of her youth, how they needed ice for the ice box — not a refrigerator — they had, or how they needed to warm bricks on the black stove then wrap them in towels to bring to bed on cold winter nights, or scrub clothes on washboards not in a washing machine, and so many other heartwarming stories at the turn of the century.

Helen was an exceptional cook, and often wished she had gone to school to pursue this as a career. So many wonderful meals were shared around her humble table with smiles and laughter. Not only did she cook, but she also knitted many a sweater and hats for all her nieces and great-nieces and nephews. Everything she made was made with love.

Helen is survived by her beloved sister, Emma; brothers, Andrew and Joseph; as well as her many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews, Denise and Henry Gilbertie and family, Janice and Richard Magner and children Kate, Meghan, Ricky and Jackie, Richard Racsko and children, Elizabeth, Nicholas and Jack, Susan and Michael Deynarian, Corliss Racsko, and Patricia Racsko.

Helen was a kind and gentle soul who took it upon herself to raise her own brothers and sister when their mother passed away at a very young age. She never complained that she didn’t finish her education. She always said, “family comes first.” She lived by this sentiment and was surrounded by family always.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, July 1, 2016 at 11 a.m. at St. Michael’s Church, 25 Maple Ave, Beacon Falls, Conn. There will be a private burial in Yonkers, N.Y.

To honor Helen’s memory, please make contributions to support a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.