Prokopchak

Helen A. Skunda Prokopchak, 87, of Main Street in Lyndora died Monday at Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after a long illness.

Helen was dedicated to her family, her church and her country.

She was born in February 1922 in Bredinville just south of Butler. Her parents were Suzanna Sciranka Skunda and George Skunda. She was a lifelong resident of Butler Township.

Helen attended Bredinville School, Lyndora School and Butler High School. After high school, Helen became a nanny, looking after the children of Butler area families.

At the outbreak of World War II, Helen began her work at Spaide Shirt Factory making uniforms for America's soldiers, a position she held until 1948.

In 1947, Helen married her sweetheart, William "Bill" Prokopchak, for whom she had waited through the long years of World War II.

Helen was active in civic organizations. She was a member of the St. John Roman Catholic Church Woman's Club and later St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church and the Lyndora School PTA.

For more than a dozen years, Helen sewed the vestments worn by the altar boys at St. John Roman Catholic Church.

Along with her husband, Bill, she helped found the Lyndora midget football team, preparing the team uniform shirts for the team's first two seasons as the Copperheads.

Surviving are her husband of nearly 62 years, William "Bill" Prokopchak; two sons and their wives, David and Patricia Prokopchak of Butler and Bill and Ann Prokopchak of Winchester, Va.; six grandchildren, Gregory, Robert, Eric, Mark, Erin and Steven; a great-grandson, Seth; her beloved sister, Ann Skunda Kononchuk of Highfield; and dozens of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Helen was preceded in death by her siblings, Alexander Skunda, George Skunda, John Skunda, Andrew Skunda, Paul Skunda and Sue Skunda Paganelli.

<B>PROKOPCHAK </B>—<B> </B>Friends of Helen A. Skunda Prokopchak, who died Monday, Sept. 28, 2009, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. at <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>, 201 E. Cunningham St. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church in Lyndora with Abbot Leo Schlosser, pastor, officiating. Interment will follow at Butler County Memorial Park.Parastas services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.