Submitted by: Dan Rich

Helen Sokol

April 7, 1915 - Feb. 28, 2008

South Bend Tribune 3/2/2008
SOUTH BEND - Helen Sokol, 92, died Thursday in Bloomington, IL. She was born April 7, 1915, in South Bend, to John and Elizabeth Ramenda.

On Feb. 9, 1935, she married John Sokol, who preceded her in death on March 26, 1991. She is survived by a son, Thomas (Marie) Sokol of Spokane Valley, Wash., and two daughters, Margaret Zakowski (Joe) of South Bend and Susan Bradford (Tom) of Bloomington, Ill. Also surviving are four sisters, Louise Szabo of Fort Wayne, Stephanie Kuzmicz (Ollie), Mary Wilson and Phyllis Bognar, all of South Bend; and a brother, Walt Ramenda of South Bend. She was preceded in death by brothers, Frank and Stanley Ramenda, and by a sister, Polly Casper. She had nine grandchildren, Sheri LeDue of Anchorage, Alaska, John Sokol of Kennewick, Wash., Mark Zakowski (Rebecca) of South Bend, Kenneth Zakowski (Patti) of South Bend, Karen Higgs of Chandler, Ariz., Michael Zakowski of Glen Ellen, Calif., Jeffrey Bradford of Kokomo, Ind., Andrew Bradford (Melissa) of Lafayette, Ind., and Jennifer McNeil (Scott) of Greenwood, Ind.; and 11 great-grandchildren, Chani LeDue, Reilly Sokol, Becky, Connor and Zachary Zakowski, Sarah Zakowski, Maura and Clare Higgs, Jaron, Kylie and Krestyn Bradford.

Helen was a perfectionist. She knew the Old World ways that made everything look better and taste better. If you helped in her kitchen, you learned to do things the right way. Family, friends and neighbors especially enjoyed her kieflies and kolacz. Whatever she cooked, she didn't like to see an empty plate. She would always urge you to eat more. Helen had a passion for collecting antiques and enjoyed the excitement of weekend auctions. She became known as the "Lace Lady" in the auction circuit and would tell anyone who would listen the history and value of the fine art of lacemaking. If there was any lace hidden in a pile at an auction or garage sale, she would find it. She loved her family, too. She enjoyed her times and travels with her children and her sisters. You couldn't mistake her joy with her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. She had a passion for good food and entertaining. And she will always be remembered as being in the kitchen.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday, March 3, in the Zahoran Funeral Home, 1826 S. Kemble St., South Bend. A parish Rosary will be prayed at 4:30 PM. A funeral Mass will be held in Our Lady of Hungary Catholic Church on West Calvert Street in South Bend on Tuesday, March 4, at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.