April 10, 1928 – July 18, 2024
Helen Lawsky, 96, was a tiny but mighty woman who lived a full and vibrant life. She was sharp, witty, and selfless, and the matriarch of every room she was in (even if it was full of strangers). She always put others first and made sure that everyone was well-fed, happy, and healthy.
Helen was born in Łódź, Poland, to Chaim and Sara Szulewitz. She and her sister, Rose, stayed together through three concentration camps and reunited with their brother, Abram, after liberation. She and her husband, Harry, met in Łódź after the war, married in 1948, and immigrated to the United States in 1949. Helen devoted herself to Harry’s care for their 70 years of marriage until his passing in 2018.
From the unspeakable tragedy of the Holocaust, Helen built a family that embodied her resilience, strength, and effervescence. Those privileged to know her called her a gem and a spitfire. Her absolute joy for life was evident in her singsong remarks, zippy commentary, and admiration for her family, particularly her great-grandchildren. No matter where she was — in the Bronx hosting a New Year’s Eve party or holiday dinner, in the Catskills playing cards or having a cookout, at the Savoy teaching friends how to play mahjongg, or even in an elevator with complete strangers — she was unforgettable.
She leaves behind two sons, Richard and his wife, Dorothy, and Harold and his wife, Ilene. She will be missed by her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and their families: Pamela, her husband Cliff, and their children, Noah and Liam; David; Samantha, her husband Josh, and their children, Oliver and Nora; and Allison and her partner, Matt.
A graveside service for Helen will be held Sunday, July 21, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 2:45 PM at New Montefiore Cemetery, 1180 Wellwood Ave, West Babylon, NY 11704.
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