Helen Dowbnia, loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and aunt, passed peacefully into the merciful and loving arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, July 13, 2020, at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, Illinois. She was 83 years old.

Helen was born on June 30, 1937, in Krasnograd, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine, the daughter of Antonina Litus and Harry Zinchenko. Helen grew up in Krasnograd during the tumultuous and terrible years leading up to World War II. During this time Helen and her family (grandmother Efrosina Litus, mother Antonina, father Harry, sister Louise and brother Anatol) lived in a bombed-out farmhouse and barn. They had many encounters with occupying troops during this time, but by the grace of God they were protected from harm.

In late 1942, the family realized that Krasnograd was doomed, so Helen and her family headed west toward Poland. Eventually they were able to board a refugee train bound for Germany.

Upon their arrival in Germany, Helen and her family were put to work maintaining a small airport in a rural area near the town of Engelstadt. Fortunately, the war was coming to an end, and all the German soldiers left.  Nearby farmers were friendly and open to trade with the refugees, and soon this area was occupied by American forces. The refugees were provided with housing and Red Cross aid.

In 1949, through the work of the International Refugee Organization, Helen and her family emigrated to the U.S. as displaced persons and were located in New York City. Helen attended school there until 1950, when the family moved to Trenton, New Jersey, where she met the

love of her life, future husband Anatol (Tony) Dowbnia. They were married on Sunday, May 31, 1953. For a number of years, they lived in Trenton; they also lived in Hamilton Township, Ewing Township, and eventually settled in Allentown, New Jersey. Their marriage was a love story of lifelong devotion to one another and their family. Along life's path they raised a beautiful family: Albert, Vera, George and Victoria.

Surviving Helen are daughter Victoria and her husband Jameson, daughter Vera and her husband Scott, son George and his wife Darien, and son Albert and his wife Karen. Grandchildren include Alex, Adam, Kyle, Zachary and Emma. Also surviving are Helen's brother Anatol, sister-in-law Valentina, and many nieces, nephews and extended family. Helen was predeceased by her father Harry, her mother Antonina, her loving husband Anatol, her sister Louise Boychuk, and Louise's husband John.

Helen enjoyed all kinds of music—two of her favorite singers being Elvis Presley and Tom Jones. She and Tony loved to dance, and along with Louise and John Boychuk, the couple attended many formal dances and holiday celebrations at St. George's Fellowship Hall. Helen adored her church family and sang in the St. George's Ukrainian Orthodox Church choir as well as in the Ukrainian Women's Choir.

Helen also was a great fan of detective shows like "Barnaby Jones," "Magnum, P.I.," "Cannon," and "Hawaii 5-0," which she would watch with her family. She also loved cats, especially little kittens. She and Anatol delighted in going to the beach, whether it was the Jersey Shore or Naples, Florida, where they vacationed for many years, giving Helen the opportunity to collect many beautiful seashells. She and Tony loved their life together, whether it was being with family or playing favorite card games with close friends. She will be sorely missed by all of her family and many, many friends. She loved her family dearly and was at her absolute happiest when spending time with them. Perhaps what made her smile most broadly and joyfully was watching her grandchildren play on the beach or in the pool, or seeing her sons and grandsons playing baseball, soccer and basketball.

Helen, a superb homemaker, was an excellent cook who enjoyed baking special desserts and preparing traditional Ukrainian foods like borscht, varenyky and holubsti, to name a few. She also loved sewing and cross-stitching, especially beautifully elaborate Ukrainian embroidery. After the kids were raised, she began a career at the State of New Jersey Department of the Treasury, where she made many friends among her co-workers. But before that, she enjoyed a part-time job at a local landmark in Hamilton, New Jersey, the "Eet Gud" Bakery.

Helen was a lifelong member of St. George's Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Yardville, New Jersey. She prayed every day—her Christian faith a source of strength and comfort throughout her life. We rejoice that Helen is now with her Lord and suffering no more. When her beloved Tony died in August 2019, she missed him tremendously and desperately longed to be with the love of her life again.  Blessedly, the two are now reunited in heaven.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the funeral service will be held privately. Burial will follow at Morrisville Cemetery, located at S. Pennsylvania and Anderson Avenues in Morrisville, Pennsylvania. Arrangements are under the direction of Peppler Funeral Home, Allentown, NJ.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Helen's honor may be made to St. George's Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Yardville, New Jersey. (Tribute by Al Dowbnia)