Helen Maryann Bricker (nee Bujnowski) was born on April 8, 1928 in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania. She was a true "Coal Miner's Daughter" and was the 3rd of 8 children born to Zygmunt and Mary Bujnowski. When she was 16 year old, her family moved to Philadelphia where she ultimately met the love of her life, John DeShield Bricker. They were married on September 19, 1953. During their 52 ½ yr marriage, they took advantage of John's job as an airline mechanic and traveled the world via United Airline's "friendly skies". They had the pleasure of visiting much of Europe, Japan, as well as most of the United States, Canada and Mexico. When not traveling the world, Helen ran her own business, a neighborhood corner candy store known as "Helen's Variety", where she sold Hershey's Ice Cream, penny candy and of course the famous Philly Hoagies! When not working, she loved to cook and she let her Polish heritage shine through in her homemade kielbasa, stuffed cabbage and potato pancakes.

During their lifetime, they were blessed with 2 children, Robert (Nov '54) and Helen Jr. (Nov '59).

Bob followed in his father's footsteps and works for United Airlines. He blessed her with 2 grandsons, Scott and Mark, as well as her great granddaughter Anastasia. Helen chose to follow her passion of talking on the phone and works for AT&T, also blessing her with 2 grandsons, Adam and Kevin.

Helen is survived by her 2 sisters, Rosemary Chisholm (Anaheim, Ca) and Jeannie Paczewski (Philadelphia Pa,) along with a myriad of wonderful nieces and nephews.

Upon their retirement, Helen & John actively volunteered at Christ the King Catholic Church in Northeast Philadelphia, helping with Bingo, meals for the sick and the Winter Carnival. In December 2005 they moved out to California to live closer to their kids. Although she lost her beloved husband in 2006, Helen had the pleasure of living her last years in Irvine California, watching her grandsons grow up, learn to drive, graduate, and moving into the college and working world. She went on to join her beloved husband on January 27, 2014 at the wonderful age of 85.

Please join us for a Celebration of her Life at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Irvine on Saturday February 1, 2014 at 10am. Given her lifetime devotion to her Catholic faith, in lieu of flowers, donations will be accepted in her memory to either St. John Neumann Catholic Church (Irvine, California) or Christ the King Catholic Church (Philadelphia, Pa).

**********************************************************************************

Words to sum up her life:

Devoted Wife, Mother and Grandmother

Devout Catholic

Proud to be Polish