Helen Ann Hayduke PasiakSeptember 26, 1924 - February 8, 2021 An amazing woman who had lived well, loved unconditionally, worked hard, served others, and celebrated life recently died in Frederick, Maryland surrounded by some of the many friends and family members who deeply love and honor her. Helen was a kind, gentle person with great inner strength, determination, and fortitude. She maintained a positive attitude, and through her example we learned how to face adversity, to offer empathy, and to support others compassionately. She was wise, clever, witty, creative, efficient, resourceful, generous, welcoming, and always encouraging and helpful. Born in a farmhouse near Lakewood, Pennsylvania, as a young child Helen moved to the family's homestead on Solsville-Augusta Road outside of Oriskany Falls, New York. She continued to operate and expand this dairy farm for almost seventy years, first with her parents and brothers, and later with her husband, Tony. Following the Great Depression and World War II, Helen Ann Hayduke and Anthony Joseph Pasiak were married on November 3, 1945. Together, they had created a home and worked side by side for nearly half a century. In addition to caring for her mother for seven years, Helen broke the glass ceiling early in her career as a farm owner and operator. She excelled in family farming decades ago by working hard in the barn and in the fields to maintain and develop a distinguished, successful dairy business. Along with the daily responsibility of attending to the young calves, cleaning around and feeding the livestock, and milking the cows, she performed such labor-intensive tasks as felling trees, cutting firewood, fixing fences, stacking hay, bagging oats, picking rocks, digging out the entire cellar by wielding a pickaxe and shovel, and mixing concrete by hand to construct the dairy barn. Once asked by a neighbor "what are you trying to prove?" while working in the fields with Tony to harvest the crops, Helen simply replied "I am just doing what needs to be done." While maneuvering around the field and farm chores, Helen raised four children, kept a lovely home, enjoyed cooking and baking, tended to a large garden, picked berries, canned thousands of jars of vegetables, fruit, jams, and juices, fed family and friends, and hosted many festive holiday and celebratory gatherings. She relished spending time with all of her relatives, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Family was always her greatest joy, yet she had carved out time for a variety of community activities. For example, she had participated in the Augusta chapter of the Home Bureau for several years with many neighboring women. She and Tony were active members of the Eastern Milk Producers Cooperative, frequently attending and hosting meetings. She had been the President of the Kelley Phillips Post 569 American Legion Auxiliary, during which she had organized the annual Veteran's Day Dinner, wedding receptions and other catered parties. During these years she had customarily peeled hundreds of potatoes for salads and for mashing, and was well known for making countless pans full of delicious Polish golumbki. For many annual Memorial Day Parades, Helen and Tony, along with several volunteers, used to prepare hamburgers, hotdogs, and seasonal sides to feed all the folks marching in the band and color guard, and the legionnaires. She had a strong sense of patriotism, and this was one of the many ways in which she had honored those who had served our country. Helen greatly enjoyed Polish music, food, and culture. Whether at family weddings, or at various "Polka Dances" in the region, Helen and Tony had lots of fun dancing obereks and polkas to the festive sounds of Marion Lush, Happy Louie, Fred and Frankie, and other local Polka bands. They had also enjoyed the "Levis and Laces" Round and Square Dance Club. She had personally sewn several dresses which would coordinate with Tony's attire, and they met weekly at the Madison Central School cafeteria to dance with friends during the 1970's. Sewing was one of Helen's many creative forms of self-expression. She had also learned how to create exquisite wedding and celebratory cakes. She had experimented with color, size, and design, and frequently gave these stunning creations to friends and relatives as gifts. Food presentation was another artform for Helen. She would garnish her creations with great appeal. Farm visitors were always invited to dine with her and Tony! She genuinely enjoyed cooking, baking, and feeding others, and was reminded by many over the years about a delicious dessert that she had shared, or how she had welcomed them to her kitchen table. Helen was the daughter of Wojciech (Albert) and Jozefa (Josephine) Hajduk and was the youngest of eleven children. She was predeceased by her husband, Tony; by her brothers Martin Hayduk, John Hayduke, Lewis Hayduke, Frank Hayduke, Thomas Hayduke, and by sister Anna Hayduke Grainger. She is survived by her four children: Lewis Pasiak of Sherrill, New York; John Pasiak of Hernando, Florida; Carol Pasiak Loomis and her husband Bruce Pierce of Hamilton, New York; and Patty Pasiak and her husband Joe Sanicola of Frederick, Maryland; by more than two dozen grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson; and by several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Funeral arrangements will be made by Paul Funeral home in Madison, New York. On Friday, June 18th, friends and relatives will be received at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Oriskany Falls, New York, from 10 - 11 am. A Catholic funeral mass will follow at 11am. The Christian burial will thereafter be at St. Joseph cemetery in the same village. Helen Ann Hayduke Pasiak was among the greatest of the Greatest Generation. She will be deeply missed, always loved, and forever remembered.VisitationFriday, June 18, 2021 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
229 Main Street Oriskany Falls 13425, United States
ServiceFriday, June 18, 2021 11:00 AM
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
229 Main Street Oriskany Falls 13425, United States