Helen Grudzielanek, 90, of Bowling Green died Saturday at Greenview Hospital. She was born May 26, 1927 a daughter of John & Marie Eva (Hanus) Barwick, Milwaukee, WI. She was baptized at Holy Angels Catholic Church, Milwaukee, WI June 5, 1927. She attended Keefe Avenue grade school and graduated from Rufus King high school January 25, 1945. She worked at Signal Battery Co. during WWII for the War Effort. After the war, she worked at LeRoi Co. in the catalog department. She met her husband Ray in a Bowling League while he was on 30 day furlough after WWII before his discharge from the Navy. They were married January 22, 1949 at Holy Angels Catholic Church. She and husband designed and built their two Lannon Stone homes in Milwaukee and Hales Corners, WI doing the carpentry and mason work themselves and having four children. As parish member of St. Mary's Catholic Church she belonged to the Holy Rosary Society and was a den mother in the Boy Scout programs. She moved to Bowling Green, KY in 1964 with her husband and children with his employment with Cutler Hammer, in the house he designed and had built. They joined St. Joseph Catholic Parish where their four children attended St. Joseph Catholic School. She worked as a volunteer in the school lunch program and managed the school government milk program. She performed secretarial work for the Catholic Sisters of Charity School Principal. After graduation of the children she worked with her lady friends from St. Joseph school in the city public school lunch program from 1975 to July of 1986 when she and her husband retired. She and her family became charter members of Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Smallhouse Road. She was a member of the 1st Parish Council for four years. She was a member of Catholic Women Organization (CWO), President for four years and secretary for two years. She organized the 1st Holy Spirit parish ladies volunteer church cleaning program and was a member for many years. She co-chaired the 1974 parish festival with her husband. She received the Outstanding Senior Citizen Diocesan Sophia Award in 2007 with her husband. She was co-chairperson for the Knights of Columbus Mentally Disabled (Tootsie Roll) Drive with her husband for over thirty years. She was co-chairperson with her husband for the Knights of Columbus "FUN NITE, an evening of dancing program for Mentally Challenged, they started in 1988 and continued through the years. She and her husband and family were elected the Knights of Columbus State Family of the year 1999. She co-chaired the St. Mark's Priory, South Union annual fund raising festival with her husband for six years. She was a member of a ladies thirteen member monthly Canasta card club since 1966. She worked with her husband in many of his projects.
In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her brother, Gordon Barwick and sister, Lucille Betker.
She is survived by her husband, Raymond E. Grudzielanek of Bowling Green; her twin sister, Evelyn Waters of Bueno Vista, AR; two sons, Gary Grudzielanek (Tammy) and Donald Grudzielanek (Patsy) all of Louisville, KY; two daughters, Rosemary Jouskey (Larry) of Louisville and Pamela Spangler (Randy) of Bowling Green; seven grandchildren, Caron Anderson (Kris) of Indianapolis, IN, Kimberly Cupolo (Frank) of Louisville, Christopher Grudzielanek (Tara) of Greenville, SC, Michele Wilson (Nick) of Louisville, Stephanie Metten (Christian) of Louisville, Paige Reber (Jarred) of Nashville, TN and Tanner Spangler of Fayetteville AR; eight great grandchildren.
Funeral Mass is scheduled for 10:00 AM Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with burial in St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at Johnson-Vaughn-Phelps Funeral Home and from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Prayer service will be at 7:00 PM Tuesday at Johnson-Vaughn-Phelps Funeral Home.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Diocesan Shrine of Mary c/o St. Joseph Catholic Church, 434 Church Street, Bowling Green, KY 42101