Obituary of Helen C Safran

Name: Helen C. Safran Date of Death: Thursday, December 20, 2007 Residence: Rome, NY Age: 90 Obituary: Helen Caroline Safran, 90, of Rome Memorial Hospital Residential Health Care Facility, formerly of 707 N. Jay St., Rome, New York, died peacefully Thursday, December 20, 2007, with her loving family at her side after a long illness. She was born on March 30, 1917, in Rome, New York, the daughter of John and Anna Gerczak Stecko (Steczko). On December 1, 1945, she was united in marriage to Walter M. Safran at Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church. Mrs. Safran was a life-long Rome resident. She was educated at Transfiguration school. She was a member of the Transfiguration Church and its Rosary Society. She was a 60-year member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Frank J. Steczko Polish American Veteran's Post, the Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 2246, the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Ukrainian Veterans Club of Rome, and a member of the Rome Senior Citizens Center. Mrs. Safran worked at the former W. T. Grants Store in Rome until the store's closing. Helen was predeceased by a brother, Frank J. Steczko, who was the first of Rome's World War II casualties to be returned to Rome, and who had the Frank J. Steczko Polish American Veteran's Post of Rome named for him. Mrs. Safran believed in giving back to the community as part of her "civic duty". She took pride in her Steczko Post Red and White Cape and Hat Uniform, Marching in Memorial Day and Veteran's Day Parades and Cemetery Services. She and her sister, Catherine Fike, were mainstays at Transfiguration Church's Rosary Society Activities and Children's Christmas Parties at the Steczko Post and Polish Home. She was a March of Dimes Volunteer and a Voter Registration and Bake Sale Volunteer. She displayed an uncanny winning attitude playing Bingo and enjoyed playing shuffle board as a member of VFW Post 2246 Co-Ed Shuffle Board League. Helen also enjoyed Polka dancing. Mrs. Safran will be remembered for her strong Catholic Religious convictions, her "can help" attitude in preparing many dinners and banquets at VFW and Steczko Post Activities, ethnic polish cooking, and family holiday dinners. Helen will always be remembered for her wit and good sense of humor. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Walter M. Safran, Sr., Rome; a son and daughter-in-law, Walter M and Marsha Safran, Jr., Pleasant Prairie, WI; two granddaughters, Pamela (Roman) Grzesk, Milwaukee, WI, and Julie Ann Grover, Plano, TX; one great-grandson, Joseph Mathew Grzesk, Milwaukee, WI; a brother-in-law, James Piatkowski, Ava; many nieces and nephews and their families in various parts of the United States, Canada, and Austrailia. Mrs. Safran, the last of the Stecko (Steczko) family was preceded in death by her parents, John and Anna Stecko; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Catherine and Floyd Fike, Cecelia and Richard Morris, and Pauline and Harvey O'Brien; two brothers, Frank J. Steczko and Joseph W. Stecko; two nephews, Richard Morris, Jr., and Harvey Paul O'Brien; and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Anthony and Mary Lenio; Frank and Mary Safran; Theodore and Jane Safran; and Stella Piatkowski. The family of Helen Safran wishes to express a sincere thank you to the 3-East Nursing and Professional Staff of the Residential Health Care Facility of Rome Memorial Hospital for their patience and undying care and continual comfort given during her residence. Funeral services will be held at the Nunn and Harper Funeral Home, Inc., 418 N. George St., Rome, on Thursday, December 27 at 9:15 AM and a Mass of the Christian Burial at Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church at 10:00 AM. Interment will take place at St. Mary's Cemetery in the spring. Family and friends are invited and may call at the funeral home on Wednesday, December 26, 2007, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Services: Funeral services will be held at the Nunn and Harper Funeral Home, Inc., 418 N. George St., Rome, on Thursday, December 27 at 9:15 AM and a Mass of the Christian Burial at Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church at 10:00 AM. Interment will take place at St. Mary's Cemetery in the spring. Family and friends are invited and may call at the funeral home on Wednesday, December 26, 2007, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM.