Helen I. Virant, 88, Liked to Golf and Bowl

Born in Lorain on August 25, 1927, she remained a life-long resident of the city.

Helen attended Holy Trinity Parish School and later graduated from Clearview High School as a member of the class of 1946. She subsequently completed collegiate courses through both Lorain County Community College as well as the University of Michigan.

Helen was employed by U.S. Steel Corporation and its successor, USS Kobe, as a secretary and clerk in the production planning department; She retired from the steel producer in 1990. She had previously worked at General Industries in Elyria.

Helen was a parishioner of both Holy Trinity Church and Ss. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church prior to their closings. She currently attended St. Peter Parish.

She was a member of the Slovak Catholic Sokols Wreath # 111, the National Slovak Society, the United Slovak Society, and St. Ann’s Lodge Branch # 114; in addition, she formerly served as vice president of the American Slovak Club and was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary there. She served as chairperson of the scholarship committee as well.

In her free time she liked to golf, and bowl. An avid Notre Dame football fan, she also enjoyed doll collecting. She was a self-professed animal lover and had formerly raised show poodles.

Helen was a cheerleader in high school and remained a cheerleader in life for the family she leaves to cherish her memory including a host of wonderful nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and the special loves of her life – her great great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of forty-eight years William in 1998, by her father John Skarupa, Sr. mother Suzanna Skarupa (nee Kurucz), brothers John Jr., Steven (in infancy), Andrew, Joseph, and Sylvester, sisters Anna Homola and Margaret Berstling, and niece Roslyn Bodkin.

Her family was her life; love goes beyond the grave.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. in the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Avenue, Lorain. The officers and members of St. Ann’s Lodge will recite the rosary there at 3:00 p.m. Funeral services will be Thursday starting with closing prayers offered in the funeral chapel at 10:30 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. in St. Peter Parish – 3501 Oberlin Avenue with Reverend Craig Hovanec, pastor of the church presiding. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery.

Helen’s family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the caregivers of New Life Hospice and, especially, to Shelly and Scott Riley for the loving care they provided in the latter stages of her illness.

Memorial contributions are encouraged to Guiding Eyes for the Blind – 611 Granite Springs Road – Yorktown Heights, NY 10598. www.guidingeyes.org.

To share your condolences with Helen’s family, please visit www.gluvna.net.