Obituary of Helen M. Gowesky

Helen Marie Wilczek Gowesky, died on October 28, 2009, at Kimball Medical Center in Lakewood, NJ, after suffering a massive stroke on October 21st. An active, loving, intelligent woman, she was 88 years old. She will be sorely missed by her large family and many friends. Born and raised in Bayonne, NJ, Helen was the youngest of the seven children of Anna Kmeicik Wilczek and Teofil Wilczek. After graduating from Bayonne High School in 1939, she worked for several years as a stenographer. Helen was the widow of Joseph Michael Gowesky, a man she adored, who passed away in 2005. They fell in love as teenagers, were married for 63 years, and had a perfect marriage. Helen led a rich, remarkable life. Together she and Joe traveled all over the world, including trips to Hawaii, Australia, Egypt, India, and Morocco . An expert craftswoman, she made window treatments, quilted, crocheted, and did needlepoint. She loved animals, especially her dog Ernie. Above all, she was a people person; within minutes of meeting people, she learned about their backgrounds and invariably found a connection to Bayonne, the center of her universe. Helen served others. When she lived in Scotch Plains, she volunteered at St. Bartholomew's Church, delivered Meals-on-Wheels, and was a member of The Willing Hands, a neighborhood group that supported the American Cancer Society. When she moved to Manasquan and later to Leisure Park West, she volunteered at the Ocean County Animal Shelter in Brick. In Florida, she served as a docent for over five years at The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach . Helen is survived by her children and their spouses: Marie and Joseph Rozman of Skillman, NJ; Sarah Gowesky of Waxahachie, TX; Gary and Rose Gowesky of Pt. Pleasant, NJ; and Michael and Brenda Gowesky of Camden, ME. Her son Jeffrey Gowesky died in 2008. She will also be missed by her 11 grandchildren: Heidi, Jessica, Jennifer, Ted, Heather, Christine, Peter, Andrea, Marcy, Christoffer, and Julia. She was also blessed with 16 great-grandchildren: Adam, Ethan, Hanna, Andrew, Quinton, Ella, Alec, Emma, Ellie, Noah, Jack, Grace, Matthew, Claire, Adelyn, and Madison. Also surviving are her sister-in-law Irene Grisi of New Hope, PA, and many nieces and nephews. On Sunday, November 1, a wake will be held from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m., at the Pable-Evertz Funeral Home of Point Pleasant, 901 Beaver Dam Road. Burial will take place at 11 a.m. on November 2 at Saint Gertrude Cemetery, Colonia.