We are sad to announce the passing of Helen Ann (Gebarowski) Wieckowski, age 90, on August 6, 2022, having lost her 4-year battle with dementia. Helen and her identical twin sister Sophie were born in Chicago on January 19, 1932 to Polish immigrant parents, Piotr and Marya Gebarowski. She grew up in the Polish neighborhood known as Bucktown where she attended St. Hedwig’s grammar school and Wells high school. Upon graduation, she worked as a telephone operator in an era when every call had to be placed by an operator. She married Gene (Sonny) Wieckowski on August 2, 1953, moved to San Francisco, and never left the Golden State. She had 5 children before relocating to Fremont in 1959, where the last 2 were born. Whether working at Mervyn’s at the Fremont Hub, bowling at Cloverleaf Bowl, worshiping at St. Leonard’s Catholic Church, walking around Lake Elizabeth, playing golf, dancing the polka, or raising 7 children, Helen was always fun-loving and enjoying the outdoors with a smile on her face. She is survived by her loving husband Gene, having just celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary. He cherishes their 25,206 days of married life. She was the devoted mother to Carol (Roger) Dreyer, State Senator Bob (Sue Lemke) Wieckowski, Joyce (Bruce) Steakley, Paul (Dona) Wieckowski, Mary (Randy) Morris, Sandy (Dick Cunz) Wieckowski, and Linda Wieckowski. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Evan (Kait) Dreyer, Kelsey (Ryan) Wallace, Natalie Dreyer, Dylan Dreyer, Matthew Morris, Megan Morris, Kathryn (Gordon Freischlad) Steakley, and Danielle Steakley, and three great-grandchildren, Roy Wallace, Rayven Wallace, and Arthur Dreyer. Dear sister to Sophie (Joe) Cinzio, the late Walter (late Dorothy) Gebarowski, the late Stephanie (late Charlie) Bruzas, and the late William (late Helen) Gebarowski, she is also aunt or cousin to many loved ones in her home town of Chicago and in New Jersey. She will be dearly missed.
A visitation/viewing will be held on Friday, August 26 from 4-8 PM and a funeral service on Saturday, August 27 at 11 AM, both at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery and Funeral Center, 1051 Harder Road, Hayward, CA 94542.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in memory of Helen to the Dementia Society of America.
