Helen (Uram) Lehnowsky

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt, Helen Uram Lehnowsky, who entered Eternal Rest on December 28, 2024. She was surrounded by family.

Helen was born at home in Berwick, PA, on January 29, 1932. Starting in a one-room schoolhouse, she attended Berwick Area Schools. Upon graduating in 1948, she worked as a bookkeeper at the Berwick Gas Company and later as an area manager for World Book Encyclopedia. She spent two years as a credit manager for Sears, Roebuck and Company and was quickly promoted to general manager for The Sears Catalog until the Berwick branch closed in 1988. She then worked at the Berwick Unemployment Office as an employment interviewer until her retirement 10 years later.

In 1950, she married the love of her life, Frank “Ainy” Lehnowsky, with whom she had twin sons. Frank and Helen loved to travel, spending winters with family in Florida and, after retiring, embarking on a five-week road trip across the country.

Helen had many hobbies and interests. She and Frank were devoted Berwick Bulldogs football fans and proud season-ticket holders. They also enjoyed tailgating and attending games at Penn State, going to concerts, seeing (more than 100) entertainers, and attending Broadway shows. She collected Ukrainian artifacts, especially embroideries, wood carvings, and Pysanky Easter eggs. Many of her Ukrainian displays earned ribbons at the Bloomsburg Fair.

She was a devout member of Saints Cyril and Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church, where she actively participated in the choir and most recently served as the church historian. She also sent church bulletins to sick, shut-in, and out-of-town parishioners to keep them informed about church activities. A highlight of her life was attending the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Pope John Paul II at the Ukrainian Cathedral in Philadelphia.

Helen was actively involved in numerous community organizations throughout her life. In 1976, she was named “Woman of the Year” by the Business and Professional Women’s Organization. She was a sponsor of the Welcome Wagon Club and was honored by the Penn’s Woods Girl Scouts of Columbia County. She served as the first female director of the Chamber of Commerce of Berwick, was a member of the building committee of the Berwick Retirement Village Nursing Home, and acted as an Ambassador of Goodwill for the Berwick Hospital.

Helen also joined the YMCA aquacise class, where she not only enjoyed swimming but also cherished the companionship of the friends she made there.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John Uram Jr. and Mary Perko Uram; her husband of 67 years, Frank Lehnowsky; and her sister, Mary Anne Uram.

She is survived by her twin sons, Gregory Lehnowsky and his wife, Judy, and Craig Lehnowsky and his companion, Cherrie Long; her sister, Bonita Anderson and her husband, Gerald Anderson; her grandchildren, Jacob Lehnowsky, Lauren Lehnowsky, and Mark Lehnowsky; step-grandchildren, Jenna Long and Erin Long Marr; great-grandchildren, Max, Nora, and Beau Lehnowsky; Logan, Connor, and Sawyer Marr; and Sydney Hott; as well as nephews, Rick Anderson and his wife, Melissa, Trevor Anderson and his wife, Valerie, Todd Anderson and his wife, Jennifer, Brian Anderson, Doug Lehnowsky and his wife, Diane, Roger Lehnowsky and his wife, Maureen, and Barry Lopashanski and his wife, Carol; nieces, Kristen and Marissa Anderson, and Judy Lehnowsky; and uncle, Peter Perko and his wife, Barbara; as well as numerous great nieces and nephews, great great nieces and nephews, and Godchildren. 

Helen embraced life with enthusiasm and grace, spreading warmth to everyone around her. She leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, and a life well-lived. Her memory will forever serve as a source of comfort and inspiration to all who knew her.

Divine Liturgy will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 3, 2025 at Saints Cyril and Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church, located at 706 North Warren St. Burial will follow at Ss. Cyril Cemetery. Family will receive friends Thursday January 2, 2025 from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm at the James L. Hinckley Jr. Funeral Home and Cremation Services Inc., 1024 N. Market St., Berwick. 

Donations may be made to Saints Cyril and Methodius Church, 706 North Warren St., Berwick, PA, 18603.

Family and friends may send online condolences to jameslhinckleyjrfuneralhome.com. The James L. Hinckley Jr. Funeral Home and Cremation Services Inc., Berwick is handling arrangements.

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