Obituary of Helen Sommers

Westlake, OH - Helen Veronica Sommers (nee Drenzek) passed away peacefully on Dec. 29, 2015, in Westlake, Ohio, just ten days shy of her 97th birthday. She was the beloved wife of John Patrick Sommers, formerly of Niskayuna, NY, who died Jan. 1, 2007. She was the devoted mother of Michael E. Sommers (deceased) and Kathryn A. Sommers (Talbott); loving grandmother of Jessica S. Talbott, Alexandra S. Talbott-Welch, Michael F. Sommers and Stephanie Sommers; and loving mother-in-law to Stephen C. Talbott and Sonia M. Sommers. Helen and John were founding members of St. Helen's Church, Niskayuna, now St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church, where they were communicants for more than 60 years before moving to Ohio to be near family. Helen was a 1937 graduate of Wilbur Lynch High School, Amsterdam, and later the Amsterdam Business School of Commerce. During World War II until her marriage in 1947, she was an executive secretary at the General Electric Co., Schenectady. After graduating from high school, she was a governess for the Shuttleworth family in Amsterdam. Helen was born in Erie, PA, Jan. 8, 1919, before moving with her family at age three to Harrower's, NY, where her father got a job working at L.E. Harrower's factory in the tiny Harrower's community between Amsterdam and Hagaman. She recalled getting rides on the way home from school from Mr. Harrower in his limousine. As children, she and her brothers delighted in swimming in Chuctanunda Creek in the summer and skating on it in the winter. Helen's parents both emigrated from Poland, her mother coming by herself from near Bialystok, Poland, at age 18 about 1912. Her father came from central Poland. Polish was the language spoken at home. Like her mother, Helen was a talented seamstress and made many garments for herself and her children. She was intensely interested in politics and in her later years read the New York Times every day, underlining important passages and cutting out articles to share with the family. She was a pet lover, a devoted organic gardener, a family historian, and had an amazing memory, able to recall late in life what outfit she wore to her cousin's baptism in 1926. After they were married, Helen and Jack Sommers lived on Baker Avenue in Schenectady until they moved to Niskayuna in 1963. She was deeply religious, as was her husband. The children recalled the family's regularly doing the rosary together on their knees. Helen was devoted to her family, a caregiver to many, and a fortitude of strength. She was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Katherine Drenzek; brothers, Sigmund, William, and Benjamin of Amsterdam; and sister, Laura Slezak of Fort Johnson, NY. A graveside service will be held at Holy Redeemer Cemetery, Schenectady, NY, on Tuesday, Jan. 5, at 1 p.m. Donations may be made to St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church.