Helen Marconi

POLAND - Helen I. (Botsko) Marconi passed away peacefully on November 11, 2017, at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Boardman. She will be missed and long remembered for her loving kindness to everyone fortunate enough to have known and loved her.
Helen was born August 16, 1922, at the home of her parents in Struthers. She was the daughter of John and Mary (Sekerak) Botsko. She was the ninth of their eleven children, and the youngest daughter. She later selected her own middle name of Irene.
Helen was the first girl in her family to graduate from high school. After graduating from Struthers High, she was selected to be one of the McKelvey Elevator Girls in Youngstown. Growing up, Helen was a Campfire Girl and later served as Den Mother for her sons in Boy Scouts and as Pack Leader for her daughters in Campfire Girls.
Helen was one of the founding members of Holy Family Church, a former Sunday School teacher, a member of their Altar Guild, and volunteered at the Holy Family School Library. She loved to sing and was a member of the Holy Family Choir, Resurrection Choir, and the Sweet Adeline's International. She and her husband, Albert, participated in Happy Seniors Square Dancing, were members of the Cornersburg Seniors, and she was a member of the Knights of Columbus KCettes.
Helen was an excellent cook, collecting recipes, and often baking for Holy Family Bake Sales. Her specialties have been handed down to family members, with her homemade pizza, pagach, pizzelles, pineapple squares, and kolache among the family's favorites. Her hobbies included sewing, crocheting, reading, and word searches. She loved her rose bushes, watching the deer in her back yard, and feeding the birds and "Chippies" (her name for the chipmunks).
Helen and Albert were married on September 8, 1945, and Albert passed away on October 17, 2011. She leaves her four children; son, Philip (Judy) Marconi of Wadsworth, son, Michael (Jill) Marconi of Boardman, daughter, Maxine (Mark) Pryor of Salem, and daughter, Leslie (Daniel) Jenkins of Jamestown PA.
She also leaves six grandchildren; Taylor Marconi of Madison WI, Veronica (Jim) Riley of Sunbury, Neil Pryor of North Benton, Nathaniel Pryor of Salem, Daniel (fiance, Diana Caruso) Jenkins of Denver CO, and J. Austin Jenkins of Denver CO, plus three great-grandchildren; Nolan, Darren, and Cora Riley of Sunbury. She also leaves one remaining sibling, James (Mary Jane) Botsko of Gallatin TN; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents and husband; three sisters, infant Anna, Mary Klesch, and Susanna Palan; and six brothers, John, Joseph "Curly", Stephen, Andrew, William, and Edward Charles.
Family and friends may call Saturday, November 18, 2017, from 8:30 am to 10:30 am at Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Poland Chapel. Prayers will begin at 10:30 am. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 am at Holy Family Church. Burial will follow at Poland Riverside Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shepherd of the Valley Poland, 301 W. Western Reserve Rd., Poland OH 44514. The family would like to give special thanks to all those at Shepherd of the Valley for their loving care during Helen's few months there.