Helen M. Winalski, a lifelong resident of Hartford, and recently of Vero Beach, Florida, died peacefully surrounded by her family on January 10th at the University of Connecticut Hospital.

Born in Hartford, the daughter of the late William V. and Leocadia (Gutt) Mazurkiewicz, she graduated from Bulkley High school in 1942 with high honors. The wife of the late Warren L. Winalski, she was a devoted and loving mother who took great pride in raising her two sons, Warren and Matthew Winalski and daughter Mary Elaine Russell. Along with her loving daughter-in-law Aggie (Peterson) Winalski and son-in-law Richard K. Russell, Helen was survived by five loving grandchildren, William, Matthew (Matty), and Emily Winalski, and Alexandrea and Patrick Russell.

Helen enjoyed traveling to the ocean and going to the casinos with her loving sister Irene Jagielski and Cousin Betty Ann. She was predeceased by her brother, Edward V. and Richard J. Mazurkiewicz, her sister Irene, and many loving cousins.

Helen was a Cadet Nurse and graduated from Norwalk General Hospital as an RN. She loved nursing and was a head Nurse in the Hartford Hospital OR for several years, along with working at the USPS Medical Unit.

She was later the assistant Republican registrar of voters and enjoyed serving on the Republican Town Committee as an officer (Secretary) for many years. She served on the Board of Directors at the Polish National Home and was active in the dedication of the Polish Pulaski Monument on Main Street in Downtown Hartford. Helen was also an appreciator of fine art and was a member of the Wadsworth Atheneum for many years. Helen was also an avid gardener and spent most of her retirement cultivating a beautiful garden.

She enjoyed taking her children skiing along with her loving nephews. Polish Christmas Eve Wigilia was a favorite family tradition of Helen’s which she always enjoyed spending with her children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. Helen is survived by two nephews, Edward and Paul, and a niece, Karen. She is predeceased by nephew Drew Jagielski and brother-in-law Edward Jagielski.

Her family will receive friends on Sunday January 13, 2013 from 2-5 PM at Sheenan-Hilborn-Breen Funeral Home in West Hartford. The funeral will be held with a mass of Christian Burial at St. Cyrils and Methodious in Hartford. In lieu of flowers, contributions are encouraged to be made in her memory to the Neag UCONN Cancer Center.

Affiliations