Helen Evelyn Jablonski (nee Zydek), 97, a longtime resident of Riverside, died March 3, 2014 at the Woodlands assisted living facility at Cantata Adult Life Services in Brookfield.
Born and raised in Lyons, she married Harry Jablonski, a sign painter from Cicero. The couple lived in Riverside, where they raised two sons and ran their own sign shop. But Ms. Jablonski was very active outside of the business as a member of the League of Women Voters and as a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Riverside, where she taught parent effectiveness training (PET) and assertiveness training for women for many years. She was also the director for Christian education at the church for many years.
She and her husband loved to travel and visited such places as Portugal, Poland, Spain, Italy, Jerusalem and the Dutch Antilles.
Ms. Jablonski was also called to serve on the special grand jury that indicted Cook County State’s Attorney Edward Hanrahan for obstructing justice and presenting false evidence in the after math of the police raid that killed Black Panthers leader Fred Hampton.
In 1990, she helped launch PeopleCare at St. Paul’s Parish, an organizations dedicated to serving homebound elders in Riverside, North Riverside, Lyons, Brookfield and LaGrange. Today, the organization serves more than 200 clients and employs a team of dedicated volunteers.
In October 2013, Ms. Jablonski was recognized by the Chicago Tribune and WGN-TV for her efforts with PeopleCare.
Ms. Jablonski is survived by her sons, Bruce (Valerie) Jablonski and Russell (Ann) Jablonski; her grandsons, Scott (Terri) Jablonski, Brian (Tracy) Jablonski and Mark (Carrie) Jablonski; and five great-grandchildren.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 8 at St. Paul’s Church, 60 Akenside Road in Riverside. Her body will lie in state for one hour prior to Mass. A reception will follow the service. Inurnment will be at the St. Paul’s Parish Mausoleum.
Memorial donations are appreciated to PeopleCare Inc., 60 Akenside Road, Riverside, Ill. 60546 or www.peoplecareinc.org.
Ivins/Moravecek Funeral Home, Riverside, handled arrangements.
