Obituary of Helen Smereka

Helen Smereka, 97, of Glen Rock, NJ passed away on Sunday, June 2, 2019 at St. Mary’s General Hospital, Passaic. She was a lifelong resident of Brooklyn and worked as a teletype operator for ITT.  She received her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Hunter College. Helen was an active member of the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Transfiguration of Our Lord in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.  She enjoyed photography and English literature.  Helen was a very charitable person and took great joy in helping others.  Most of all, she loved spending time with her extended family. 

Helen was predeceased by her parents, Simeon and Martha Zacharkow Smereka; siblings, Basil Smereka, Anna Smereka Matechak, Mary Smereka Zacharkiw, and Olga Smereka Dillon Mathews; and niece, Mary Dillon.  She is survived by her nieces, Martha Matechak, Olga Zacharkiw Garey and her husband, Robert, Ann Dillon Tannous and her husband, Alan, Dr. Sharon Dillon-Mastafiak and her husband, David, her nephews, Stephen Zacharkiw and Dr. Thomas Mathews, and several grand-nieces, grand-nephews and cousins.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at the St. Mary’s Russian Orthodox Church, 316 Cassville Road, Jackson.  Interment will follow at St. Vladimir Russian Orthodox Cemetery. For information, directions, or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com