Helen Klutkoski

Mrs. Helen Tchorz Klutkoski having celebrated her 100th. birthday last August, entered the arms of the Lord surrounded by the love and care of her family on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

We respectfully request that no one arrive at the funeral home prior to the posted visitation times, so as not to intrude on the family’s private time. 

Family and friends are invited to the visitation in the Kowalski Funeral Home, 515 Roselle Street, Linden on Tuesday, April 16th. from 4:00-8:00PM.  On Wednesday, April 17th. at 9:45AM, everyone will gather directly at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Roman Catholic Church, Linden where the funeral mass will be offered at 10:00AM.  The prayers of committal will precede Helen’s burial in the family plot in St. Gertrude Cemetery, Colonia.  In lieu of flowers, donation in Helen’s memory may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at http://www.stjude.org/donate.

Helen, the daughter of the late Kunegunda Kurasz Tchorz and the late Michael Tchorz was born in Jersey City, New Jersey.  Her family settled in Linden in 1926 where she lived the majority of her life before moving to Whiting Township in March of 2018. 

Helen was an accomplished seamstress and worked at Helmar Fashion in Westfield for many years. Over the years, she used this talent to sew clothing for her family as well as custom draperies for the family business. Helen was also a very accomplished crafter, knitting and crocheting beautiful layettes for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also volunteered her time crocheting blankets and hats for newborn babies. Helen was a skillful quilter, completing beautiful pillows and quilts in addition to doing intricate embroidery projects. Besides her craft skills, Helen loved music. This led her to pursue organ lessons later in life, starting lessons as a beginner at the age of 73. This accomplishment gave her great pride and joy while providing hours of beautiful music for many years. 

Helen was known for her cooking skills, especially her delicious pierogis, stuffed cabbage, and delicate kruschicki, as well as her secret coleslaw recipe. These delicacies provided her family with wonderful memories of delicious family celebrations.  

Helen was active in numerous clubs in Linden, including the St. Theresa’s Senior Club, the Tremley Point Senior Citizens Club, the Ladies Auxiliary Linden Knights of Columbus Council #2859, the Tuesday Social Club, the Knitting & Crocheting Club, and the AARP.  She was an officer in many of these clubs and more times than not, Helen was asked to repeat that role, holding the same office for several years.

Helen was predeceased by her husband, Henry “Hank” E. Klutkoski in 1988; her four brothers, Walter Tchorz, John Tchorz, Paul Tchorz and Edward J. Tchorz and her favorite uncle, Ludwik Kurasz.

Helen leaves behind a wonderful legacy for her four daughters, Lorraine Dobilas, Dolores Pecorari and her husband, Frank, Patricia Qualshie and her husband, Peter and Karen Ross and her husband, Dennis; her brother, Stanley Tchorz; her ten grandchildren, Vincent Dobilas, Dennis Dobilas, Lisa Stevens, Heather Melendez, Amy Pecorari, Patrick Qualshie, Meredith Peitz, Faith Qualshie, Nicholas Ferrughelli and James Ferrughelli; her fourteen great grandchildren, JT, Julia, Bean, Riley, Amari, Malia, Madelyn, Benjamin, Mia, Elena, Kevin, Mark, Ava and Luke and her numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and friends.

Helen was a tireless, talented, and determined woman who enjoyed fun times and lived life to the fullest, defying her age.  She was a beacon of light endlessly shining for her family that she loved so dearly.  Helen will be forever missed but her story will continue to be told and she will never be forgotten.  May we now rejoice that Helen is together again with the love of her life, Hank and may they both have eternal rest.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Helen Klutkoski, please visit our floral store.