Helen M. (Przybylinski) Nazimek

Helen M. Nazimek

January 12, 1925 - June 11, 2020

Helen M. Nazimek, 95, of Michigan City, Indiana passed away peacefully at La Porte Hospital of natural causes on June 11, 2020 surrounded by her children.

She was born on January 12, 1925 to Anthony M. and Helen G. (Dolembo) Przybylinski at St. Anthony Hospital in Michigan City.

She is survived by son Thomas Nazimek of Michigan City and daughters Cathy Nazimek of Gurnee, Illinois and Carol Nazimek of Vernon Hills, Illinois as well as many loved nieces and nephews.

On October 5, 1949 she was married to her husband of 52 years, Louis F. Nazimek at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Michigan City. He preceded her in death on May 20, 2002.

At 95 years, Helen was the last of her generation, she was the fourth of five daughters born to Anthony and Helen Przybylinski. She was preceded in death by sisters Emily (Leon) Jackowski of Santa Ana, California, Mary Przybylinski of Michigan City, Dolores (Victor) Eburno of Chicago and Naperville, Illinois, and Jean (Lawrence Sr.) Kraemer of Michigan City.

In 1926 her father sold the family grocery store on South Franklin Street to cousin Clem Spychalski and moved the family to Chicago, opening a grocery on E. 80th Street. Helen grew up on the South Side attending South Shore High School and graduating from St. Michael High School in South Shore. She would remember Sunday drives to Michigan City so her father, a beekeeper could tend his beehives on East Coolspring Avenue. The honey they sold in their grocery was important as sugar was a rationed commodity during the war. The family moved back to Michigan City in 1946.

She was employed for 10 years as a switchboard operator for Illinois and Indiana Bell. She recalled handling the overwhelming calls that flooded the switchboard on V-J Day in 1945. The last 13 years of her career were at the information desk and switchboard at St. Anthony Hospital in Michigan City, retiring in 1990.

Helen was a longtime member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church. An avid reader, she read three newspapers a day and over 2500 books in her retirement. She enjoyed cooking, baking and going to book sales. She shared the love of travel with her husband and family, exploring most of the United States and visiting Canada, Mexico, Hawaii and the Caribbean.

 A private service for family will be at St. Stanislaus Diocesan Cemetery. A Memorial Mass in her intention to be said at a later date.

Memorials may be made to the St. Stanislaus Renaissance Campaign Fund, 1506 Washington St., Michigan City, IN 46360

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