Helen Eugenia Wozniak

I enjoyed the good times of helping Helen out, with recently having prepared the street for paving repair before the city came to help me out with finishing the process, which included the path of both of our properties. Helen expressed her gratitude and joy, that I remembered to include her in that process, as Seja, next door to her on the other side, told me. When Helen first moved in, it was her prerogative along with ours to keep the back yard open without ultimately fencing it in, or closing it in - to maintain that open landscape feeling, even if the overall space was not that huge in comparison to the suburbs. We still have boulder type rocks, flag stones, Merimec Apache Salmon Pink Colored Stone from the early 80's there, with having all of our hands in the dirt, at that point in time. She loved the color of the Merimec stone against her house, when it was new and had not eroded away through the years. I purposely re-planted the open free style shrubbery there in the back, up to now, all because of wanting to celebrate having that open space, and would always continue to try to keep the lawn planted to keep things in order, for her, even though I was not on that side of the house, all of the time. And, now that free style shrubbery that I planted, has already matured, as time goes, on and on. Helen always enjoyed the smell of fresh cut grass; especially when she was able to do the landscaping on her own and of neatly shoveled snow; with her Sears Craftsmen lawnmower, snow blower, etc. Helen never minded that my little Coton dog, Cailee would meander over by her in the back, or that I would include bringing her along with those road trips in her new Honda. I would no sooner tell Helen that I will be over with carrying a conversation with her on the phone, that Cailee would then be bolting towards her steps, in front of the house to greet her. Or, Helen would alternatively say, "Myles, Cailee went on your new lawn, in the back yard." To THIS DAY, Helen never realized that after that, that Cailee then proceeded to make certain that she would always continue go further past our own yard, to only go on her lawn in the backyard. She would then return back to our back yard driveway area. Helen was always, amazed that Cailee would find her way over by her, especially with having lost her eye site, towards the end. The whimsical thing, is that I would then have to follow the path that Cailee forged through the Yuccas, to Helens yard, to do any cleaning up after her. Again, Helen, didn't seam to mind :). Helen loved her front tree, and told me that she always wished that the tree leaves were golden colored, as she originally requested, from the city. That tree was a baby, and now it is one of the biggest trees on the block - with some of the others, that surround her tree. "The time keeps marching on," as Helen, would always propose to me, "life is NEVER, easy." We and she, loved the sun in our face, especially as the pitch of the sunlight would fall to the south-west (with her sitting on the back porch, or getting back home after traveling). I never minded taking her to the Rosemont Casino, additionally because of all of the ambiance and noise from the arcade type machines (even if, I was just dropping her off and going to find her there, to pick her up). That pitch of the sunlight falling each day, would always be a reminder for us, to keep up with the remaining pace of the day, because once it gets dark, "that day is over," (with getting she and her car back in front of the house, when I would take her all-over the place in that sporty looking Honda). It also, had a sunroof, that she would not want to tamper with. That sunroof was there, just for COSMETICS. Her brother, John, told us, "that it would be the best looking car, in her funeral :)." Helen literally travelled all over by walking, using the local buses that were available, using her bike that had a basket and was very good at hitching a ride :). She would have things randomly delivered, to her house, additionally, way before Uber, and self serve methods, computers and smart phones :). She loved having Walgreens deliver a prescription, even if it was for just one item, and loved Sears Wiebolts,and Kmart, before that. Going to Carsons Pirie Scott Department Store, was huge, for her. It was all about the presentation, of things :). My father, with the projects around the house when he did things, was willing and did build out a space in the alley (originally); when we built out our garage, so she would have a space for her garbage can, as well (since, she did not have a need to build her own garage, which would have included extra space, instead of having a fence that runs along the alley. He was even determined to pour his own cement, and everything, along with building the fence in the back. Helen, ended up being included, with most things, in a good sense, in those more mobile times for all of them, because of her effort and initiative to participate, in the good times, that emanated around her. If she was willing and able, it would always end up with her, singing the tune to a favorite reminiscent or military song from the past; which would ultimately have included everyone that surrounded her :). With Helen, being so determined to be social, she found and noticed that the very neighbor of her brother John, for all of those years, were childhood friend's of ours, in Naperville. My mother went to grade school with Evonne Levan (next door to John), where Ricco, her husband, was also part of the whole clan, when growing up, as well. Those visits, would include card games, every month. I never, really minded helping Helen out, even though it was not always easy, with everything else that was happening with myself, as time marched on in our lives. I discussed the frustration over the process over needing to clean up the leaves one time to her, and she replied by saying, "we used to play in piles of leaves like that." :). In most cases, again, Helen didn't mind, about things that would occur and did appreciate the fact that she was included. Her fondest memory was something like going to Lake Geneva and talking about the feeling of her having been on a lake being tugged by a boat, to go water skiing. Helen developed a lot of history for herself and others, and made sure that she was heard as a way to ear mark, the process of those times. Helen always wanted to make sure that people won't forget about her, as time goes on. And her specific wish, was that everyone would only remember the good things about her. She always felt that it is always better to be looked-over; than to be over-looked. Yes, "time, marches, on and on." Myles

Our deepest condolences to Helen’s brother and all family members. Helen was more than a neighbor to us. She was our extended family, and we were so blessed to have known her for over 30 years. We have so many good memories. So many great conversations we would have, most were held over the fence as she sat in her chair on her porch listening to the radio. We always appreciated and will never forget the generosity, friendship and support she extended to us throughout the years. She was such a good person. No doubt, when she left this life on earth she was met and greeted with open arms. We have one more angel looking out for all of us. Rest in peace, dear Helen. You will never be forgotten. Memory Eternal The Conley Family

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