1924
Helen
2011
Helen M. (Rowinski) Jurdak
October 19, 1924 — November 7, 2011
WORCESTER – Helen M. (Rowinski) Jurdak, 87, of Holden Street, passed away peacefully under the loving care of her family and staff at St. Mary Health Care Center on Monday, November 7, 2011 after having suffered multiple severe illnesses for over a year.
She is survived by her son, James P. Figueroa, M.D., a 32nd degree mason and five grandchildren. Her younger son, Michael Jurdak, died at age 46 and was a Vice President at Lehman Brothers in New York. A sister, Eva Sanko, predeceased her.
Helen was born in Scranton, PA, daughter of Peter and Michalina (Chihiminski) Rowinski. During the depression, she dropped out of school to financially help support her family. She was trained as a nurse’s aide during WWII, serving stateside, and later was a welder for military ordinance and airplanes. Her first husband, Durando Pompee was killed in action as a paratrooper in Italy during WWII. During this time her older brother, Adam Rowinski, was killed in action in New Guinea as a medic – having saved 164 servicemen’s lives from the front lines. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and received a Letter of Commendation from Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Her other three younger brothers, Joseph, John and Chester all served honorably as military combatants. This was the example learned from her father, Peter Rowinski, who was a corporal, in charge of a machine gun unit during WWI, was decorated for honor by Gen. George Pershing. In 1947 “by act of Congress”, she was presented a Bronze Star lapel pin with an oak leaf cluster.
Gradually she acquired enough education to qualify as a senior bookkeeper for Freeport Mineral. She eventually married Rudolph L. Jurdak and they remained married till his death 48 years later in 2002. He was assistant chief at the Federal Reserve Bank in NYC and during WWII a combat recipient of the Bronze Star.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation period from 1:30 to 3 p.m. followed by a funeral service at 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 12, in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street (Rte. 122A), Holden. Burial next to her husband, Rudolph, will be private in Calverton National Cemetery in Calverton, New York.
To share a memory or leave an on-line condolence visit: www.milesfuneralhome.com
She is survived by her son, James P. Figueroa, M.D., a 32nd degree mason and five grandchildren. Her younger son, Michael Jurdak, died at age 46 and was a Vice President at Lehman Brothers in New York. A sister, Eva Sanko, predeceased her.
Helen was born in Scranton, PA, daughter of Peter and Michalina (Chihiminski) Rowinski. During the depression, she dropped out of school to financially help support her family. She was trained as a nurse’s aide during WWII, serving stateside, and later was a welder for military ordinance and airplanes. Her first husband, Durando Pompee was killed in action as a paratrooper in Italy during WWII. During this time her older brother, Adam Rowinski, was killed in action in New Guinea as a medic – having saved 164 servicemen’s lives from the front lines. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and received a Letter of Commendation from Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Her other three younger brothers, Joseph, John and Chester all served honorably as military combatants. This was the example learned from her father, Peter Rowinski, who was a corporal, in charge of a machine gun unit during WWI, was decorated for honor by Gen. George Pershing. In 1947 “by act of Congress”, she was presented a Bronze Star lapel pin with an oak leaf cluster.
Gradually she acquired enough education to qualify as a senior bookkeeper for Freeport Mineral. She eventually married Rudolph L. Jurdak and they remained married till his death 48 years later in 2002. He was assistant chief at the Federal Reserve Bank in NYC and during WWII a combat recipient of the Bronze Star.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation period from 1:30 to 3 p.m. followed by a funeral service at 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 12, in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street (Rte. 122A), Holden. Burial next to her husband, Rudolph, will be private in Calverton National Cemetery in Calverton, New York.
To share a memory or leave an on-line condolence visit: www.milesfuneralhome.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Helen M. (Rowinski) Jurdak, please visit our flower store.
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