Helen “Sally” Szczesiak passed away peacefully in her sleep Sunday, December 12, 2021.
Helen was born in Wilmington, DE., to the late Stanley and Alexandra Krajewski. She was the fifth of seven children of a family that grew up during the depression in a Polish speaking home and neighborhood. Not until she was about ten years old did she learn to speak and write in English.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Stanley, son Michael, and son-in-law Larry Falkowski (who was like a son to her). She was also predeceased by her sister, Mary Zygmonski and brothers Manual, Stanley, Alec, Tony, and Henry Krajewski.
Helen graduated from Wilmington High School and attended Goldey-Beacom College.
Helen was extremely proud to be a WWII Veteran. As a senior in High School, she enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) as she felt strongly that it was her duty to serve her country. As a member of the 484th WAC, she was stationed in Topeka, Kansas. She was very patriotic and loved the structure of military life. Helen fondly recalled many stories of her military service and would often sing patriotic songs in her later years.
Following her military career, Helen married and became a dedicated and supportive homemaker who lived in Elsmere, DE for over 65 years. She was a devoted mother and grandmother. Raising her children and loving her grandchildren became the highlight of her life. She would always give a grandchild a special keepsake knowing it would put a smile on their face.
She was a parishioner of Corpus Christi Parish, a member of the American Legion, a Charter Member of WWII Memorial Monument and WIMSA (Women in Military Service for America).
Helen was a beautiful woman who lived her life peacefully, humbly, and always with gratitude and kindness. The simple things in life made her happy and she would try to find the good in everything. To many, she was the nicest, most loving person anyone could ever meet. Some of her favorite sayings were “in God we trust,” “posture expresses personality” and “age is just a number, but we never discuss our age!”
She is survived by her daughters Loretta Knudson (Rich) and Paula Falkowski, grandchildren Greg and Andria Knudson, Andrew and Tyler Falkowski, and great-grandchildren Madison and Kyle. Each and everyone of them will tremendously miss her warm heart, beautiful big blue eyes, and her loving spirit.
Relatives and friends may call at the Krienen-Griffith Funeral Home, 1400 Kirkwood Highway, Elsmere, on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. Visitation is at 10:30 am with services at 11:30 am. The burial at the Delaware Veterans Cemetery will be held privately. The family requests that masks be worn.
In lieu of flowers the family asks contributions be made in Helen’s name to Kentmere Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, 1900 Lovering Ave, Wilmington, DE 19806.