Obituary of Helen Annie Yanchuk

Helen A. Yanchuk, 89, of Wilkes-Barre, passed away Friday, February 20, 2015, Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. Raised in Trucksville, she was the daughter of Albert and Constance Wisolowski Borkowski. She was a graduate of the Kingston Township High School, class of 1944. Helen had various jobs during her life, working in the garment industry early on, then the YWCA, finishing her career at the Pennsylvania Gas and Water Company. Devoted to the Blessed Mother and the rosary, Helen was an active member of St. Francis and also St. John's Church in Miners Mills. She was a member of the Alter and Rosary Society and the Ladies of Charity. She especially enjoyed her time working with the dedicated members of the St. Michael the Archangel Rosary Makers group at the church. Helen instilled the importance of friends and family in her children and with 6 kids there was always a house full of friends. When Helen cooked spaghetti (she learned from Aunt Jenny) the whole neighborhood showed up. The girls learned how to sew when an industrial sewing machine was brought and bundles of material showed up with work to be done. She helped Santa get ready Christmas Eve to send him off to visit sick and needy children- And if you haven't had one of Helen's famous nut cookies, you were missing out on a treat. So in remembrance of Helen call a friend, bake some cookies, or cook a pot of spaghetti and enjoy life! She was preceded in death by her husband, Anthony S. Yanchuk, her brother Carl Borkowski, and her daughter Linda Yatko. Surviving are her daughters Marlene Pesta and her husband Stephen; Georgianne Smith and her husband, David; Antonine Chmiola and her husband, Anthony; twin sons Anthony F. Yanchuk and his wife, Mary Ann; Albert G. Yanchuk; 10 grandchildren: Stephen Yatko and his wife Natasha, Lyn Hammer and her husband, Trygue, Elizabeth Dubil and her husband, Brad; Stephen Pesta and fiancé, Melissa; Ian Pesta and fiancé, Tara; Eric Waters and wife, Marina; Michael Smith; Jeffrey Smith; Michael Chmiola, Daniel Chmiola;8 great grandchildren Katherine Yatko, Stephanie Yatko, Adam Hammer, Alexandra Hammer, Francesca Hammer, William Dubil, Naia Waters, Liem Waters; Brother LTC Edmund Borkowski (USAF retired); and nieces and nephews. Friends may call on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at St. Benedict's Parish, 155 Austin Avenue, Parsons from 9:30 am to 10:00 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:00 am. Interment will be at St. Francis Cemetery, Plains. Funeral arrangements by the Yanaitis Funeral Home Inc., Plains. Memorial Donations may be made to St. Jude's Childrens Hospital, PO Box 50, Memphis, TN, 38101-9929, or SPCA of Luzerne County, 524 E. Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa, 18702.