Helen Dudak

Helen Agnes Nienaltowski was born on May 13, 1919, in Ravenna, Ohio. She grew up the youngest of five children in the time of the depression in a household filled with love, hard work and fun. She attended Ravenna High School where she played violin. She graduated from Business school and then worked in the engineering department of Lamb Electric in Kent, Ohio. She married Michael Dudak in 1939 and lived most of her life on a farm three miles north of Ravenna, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her husband Michael; her parents Casmir and Jozefa Bunkowski Nienaltowski; all of her brothers and sisters; and one great-grandson, Gavin Pepper. She is survived by her daughter Meleny Piotrowski of Hemet, CA; son David Dudak and wife Clara of Albuquerque, NM; eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Helen loved to garden and was a member of the Ravenna Garden Club for many years. Her other lifetime activities included reading, sewing, knitting, and other crafts. She was a 4H advisor for ten years as well as a Girl Scout leader. She loved traveling with Michael pulling their trailer behind them, and the two of them were very active in the Su-Cuy-Po camping club for many years. She and Michael loved the farm in Ohio, but moved to Albuquerque in July of 2000 to be closer to family as age caught up with both of them. In 2012, after Michael's death, Helen moved to Hemet, CA to live with her daughter Meleny and bask in the California sun. Rosary will be recited on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at FRENCH - Lomas, with visitation beginning at 6:30 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, April 16, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at Prince of Peace Catholic Parish, 12500 Carmel Ave. NE. In lieu of flowers, donations can be given in her name to the Catholic Church, any Hospice group or the American Heart Association.