Helen Polonowski

Helen Polonowski was a spunky and energetic woman who always volunteered her time, her effort and her love. She was so many things to so many people – a loving wife and mother, doting grandmother, devoted sister and good friend. More than anything, Helen was a wonderful example of the good in people.

The decade of the 1920s was a time of drastic change in America. Women had just gained the right to vote in 1919, and buying on credit was quickly becoming the nation’s favorite new discovery. On March 10, 1920, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, John and Mary (Puotinen) Viitala welcomed a tiny bundle of joy into their lives with the birth of their beautiful daughter, Helen Marie. Aside from her parents, Helen was welcomed into the family by her six older siblings: Betty, Reino, Oliver, Martha, Ellen and Eva. Her family affectionately called her “Beezy” as a child.

Helen was born and raised in the rural town of Stambaugh, Michigan, in a community populated by many people of her same Finnish heritage. The Viitala family were members of the Finnish Lutheran Church. Like many men of the area, Helen’s father earned a living as an iron mine worker, and later he worked as a school custodian while her mother was a busy homemaker. Helen received her education in the area schools, and was involved with the Glee Club. She played basketball, loved to sing and dance and had a passion for ice skating. Sadly, Helen was only 16 when her mother died unexpectedly. Despite this tragedy, Helen went on to graduate from high school in 1937 and soon after went to live with her sister, Betty, in Grand Rapids. Once here, Helen got her first job in a factory on the assembly line, winding golf balls for the Walter Hagen Golf Ball Company. During WWII she inspected machine gun belt links used by our troops.

Helen was in her early 20s when she met the love of her life, Joseph John Polonowski, at the Herald Square Grill in Grand Rapids. The two hit if off right from the start and soon began dating. Hopelessly in love, Joe and Helen were happily married on December 5, 1942, in a small wedding at her sister’s house on Fourth Street. The newlyweds settled into married life together in a small apartment downtown, but because the landlord did not allow children in the complex, the couple had to move when Helen became pregnant with their first child. They moved to a home at 845 Turner and soon welcomed the birth of their son, Joseph Jr., on February 26, 1946. Then, in 1951, the family of three put down roots at a home in Comstock Park, and it was there that Joe and Helen welcomed their other two children: Jeffrey born on April 5, 1954, and daughter, Lonnie, born on March 11, 1959.

The Polonowski family enjoyed many years together in their home in Comstock Park. Helen had quite a green thumb and they had about a half-acre vegetable garden in their backyard, which the entire family tended. Much of the bounty from their garden was canned or frozen every year, but the garden wasn’t the only thing Helen kept green. Her house was full of healthy plants, and she even kept a Christmas Poinsettia alive for 15 years. Helen was always very frugal-minded when it came to the family’s budget and she could really stretch a dollar. An amazing baker, she made many of her family’s favorite recipes, which included her homemade pies, cinnamon rolls, Boston brown bread, banket and traditional Yooper pasties. Helen also made and decorated birthday cakes for her family. Although Helen could cook, she and Joe enjoyed going out to dinner most Friday and Saturday nights once their children were grown.

Time together as a family was always important to Helen and Joe and they took several memorable vacations with their kids to places like the Rockies, Yellowstone National Park, Florida, the Great Smoky Mountains, Washington, D.C. and Niagara Falls. They also made frequent trips to the U.P. to visit family. The family were members of the Comstock Park CRC. Over the years, Helen was always active doing something she loved. For 40 years, she volunteered with the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, wheeling patients down to the chapel every Sunday to attend services. After her kids were in school, Helen went to work part-time at Arlan’s Department Store. When it came to her leisure time, Helen enjoyed listening to Big Band music or watching the Lawrence Welk Show, Art Linkletter, Martha Stewart and Rachel Ray on TV. In her younger years, she liked to stay limber exercising with Jack LaLanne and walking daily. A staunch Democrat, Helen stayed current on her politics and didn’t shy away from sharing her political views.

Although Helen’s life was happy, it was also marked by great sorrow. In August 1997, her husband, Joe, was diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent surgery and chemotherapy treatments. Helen was a wonderful caregiver to Joe after his cancer returned and until his passing on March 12, 1999. After losing her husband, Helen stayed strong and lived independently, despite her health problems, including a broken hip, osteoporosis and congestive heart failure. Helen’s health diminished greatly after a fall and head injury on December 23. Following hospitalization, she was admitted to the Christian Rest Home where she passed away on Wednesday, January 13, 2010, at the age of 89. She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew and loved her.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph J. Polonowski, Sr. She is survived by her children: Joseph (Mary) Polonowski, Jr., Jeffrey (Barbara) Polonowski, Lonnie Cody; her grandchildren: Wendy Schut, Maria Polonowski, Christopher Polonowski, Jared (Kristen) Polonowski, Nick (Jackie) Cody, Heather Cody; great grandchildren: Seth Voss, Braden Schut, Nathan, Sophie and Warren Cody; many nieces, nephews and friends.

A service to celebrate Helen’s life will be held on Monday, January 18, at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Gerry Koning officiating, at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW, Grand Rapids, MI. Burial will be in Plainfield Twp. Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet her family at the funeral home on Sunday, January 17, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. and on Monday from 10 a.m. until the service begins. Memorial contributions in her memory may be made to the Christian Rest Home or Friends of Michigan Veterans Homes. Please visit Helen’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may sign her online guest book or share a memory with her family.