Helen (Adams) Maszk

Helen Maszk

Born to Life on May 23, 1924, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the daughter of Nick and Marie Garska Adams, Helen was Born to Eternal Life on September 18, 2018, in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, at the age of 94 years. She was a graduate of Holy Angels Catholic High School in Milwaukee (even though she was not Catholic at the time) and she started classes in nursing at Marquette University, but had to put off her education when her father died and she needed to help her mother with the family expenses and went to work. On February 15, 1947, Helen married Chester Michael Maszk and they remained married for 59 years until Chet's death in 2006. The Lord blessed their marriage with three daughters, Barbara, Patricia and Nicole.

Helen held many jobs during her working years. She was a secretary at Cutler Hammer for about four years, and this is where she met Chet. She also worked for many years at the Post Office as a seasonal employee during Christmas in order to pay for the Catholic school education for her daughters. Helen walked to  work at the Coast to Coast Hardware Store on 76th and Hampton Ave. when Cutler Hammer went on strike for six years in the early 1960's. Dad was union steward at the time. Then for fun and to get out of the house, Helen worked at Gimbel's Department Store in the China department, where her greeting was and she gained a reputation of being "Helen from China". She also spent time driving a school bus for handicapped children, and she developed fond relationships with several of these grade school students. Finally, Helen worked at the Voting Polls for many years eventually becoming a team leader; the opportunity to vote was a true passion for her.

Helen was also a willing volunteer. She was one of the "kitchen ladies" in the Mother of Perpetual Help School cafeteria for many years and she was a Girl Scout leader in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Helen was also an active member of "Tops" weight loss program and she enjoyed playing sheepshead and other card games with friends and family.

Most importantly, Helen was a wonderful role model for her daughters and others. She was very supportive of her daughters schooling and further education and she always put herself secondary when it came time for her daughters to be with their husband's and families.       

In addition to Chet's passing, Helen was also preceded in death by her daughter Barbara and grandson Neal Thomas. She is survived by her beloved children Patricia (Jack) Michel and Nicole (Richard) Schmidt and her son-in-law Gerard (Mary) Thomas. Helen was the loving grandmother of Mark (Jennifer) Thomas, Kevin (Renee) Michel, Kyle (Heidi) Michel, Jessica (Ben) Wildmon, Ryan (Nicole) Schmidt and Brad (Allison) Schmidt. She was the proud "grandma-great" of Simon, Henry, Stella, Genevieve and Saskia Michel, Garrett and Bryson Thomas and Vera and Theo Schmidt. Helen was the fond sister of Nick Adams, in addition to being survived by many other relatives and friends.

Visitation for Helen will be held on Friday, September 21, 2018 from 10:00am until the time of Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30m, all at St. Dominic Catholic Church, 18255 West Capitol Drive, Brookfield, Wisconsin 53045. Interment at Wisconsin Memorial Park, 13235 West Capitol Drive, Brookfield, Wisconsin 53005, next to her husband Chester will follow the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, donations to your favorite charity is requested by Helen's family.

"May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen"

"Tony, Tony, turn around.

Something's lost and must be found.

St. Anthony, I know that you are the saint people pray to when they have lost something.

Please help me to be patient, to trust in God's goodness with your help."

- Helen's Prayer to St. Anthony

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