Helen D. Klubert

Helen Klubert (1922-2018)

Helen Klubert was born in Lakewood’s Birdtown, the fifth child (Archie, Walter, Henry, Conrad, Roberta, Steffie and Stella) and first girl to Kazmierz and Helena Michno. She was born on June 16th at the Lark Ave home. She was one of the first parish children to attend the newly built St.Hedwig’s Grade School on Madison Avenue along with her other brothers and sisters. Life was fairly circumscribed then with most needs met within a block or two: the kids brought milk home daily in a pitcher from the Lakewood Dairy on Robin, meat and groceries from up the street, bread from Lakewood Bakery on Madison. Schermer Brothers had a Department Store at Magee and Madison for just about every other need. Saturday shopping included the Westside Market on the street car line. Kids would earn extra money picking fruit on the farms just to the west of town.

The close knit community and self-sufficiency skills passed on through her parents were very important during the Depression years. The family was able to make do. After graduating from St Hedwig, Helen went on to Lakewood High School. In her spare time she helped with baby-sitting and chores for a family on Lewis Drive. During the summer, she was able to travel with that family to the East Coast and enjoyed time away on the Atlantic shore.

About this time Helena became increasingly ill and unfortunately died in 1941. As the oldest daughter Helen took over a lot of the work helping to raise her sisters and care for her Dad. Everyone pitched in during the war years. Fortunately work was no farther than National Carbon (before it become Union Carbide) on W 117th Street. There was plenty of volunteer work as well. Mom met her future husband Frank through her older brother, Henry, when they were both working at the Lakewood Window Cleaning Company.

After returning from service in Europe, Frank proposed. Family lore is that the proposal was spurred on by large winnings playing dice along with Helen’s other brothers. Frank and Helen were married in 1947 at St. Hedwig’s Church and the reception followed in Birdtown. The honeymooners went to New York.

And children came shortly thereafter; (Mary); David, Christine, (twins) and Lawrence.
School meant a lot of activity for Mom’s at the Church. Helen volunteered for everything the Parish did and at one time led the Mothers’ Guild. She remained active there until the closing of St Hedwig Church.

Vacations were few while raising the kids. There was time in Atlantic City, Niagara Falls and Pennsylvania. There was a fantastic 25th Wedding Anniversary trip to Poland and Slovakia. With retirement travel was easier. The best trips seemed to begin with a train and end with a casino.
Frank and Helen were married for 59 years.

Helen lived almost her entire life within a two block radius of Birdtown birthplace. She resided at St. Mary’s of the Woods briefly during her very last years. Helen Klubert passed away peacefully in her sleep on her 96th Birthday.

Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, June 22, 2018, 10:00am at Transfiguration Parish 12608 Madison Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio. Family and friends are welcome on Thursday, June 21, 2018 from 5 - 8pm at Slone & Co. Funeral Directors, 13430 Madison Avenue, Lakewood. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorials be made out to Transfiguration Parish.