Helena Chalupa

Helena Chalupa of Washington DC, formerly of Passaic NJ, passed away on January 14, 2023 in the 95th year of her life. Beloved wife of the late Stefan Chalupa, loving mother to Irena Chalupa and her husband Askold Krushelnycky of Washington DC, Zenia Chalupa of Wilmington, DE, Zenon Chalupa and his wife Iryna Matviichuk of Silver Spring MD and doting grandmother to their daughter Maria Chalupa.
Helena (Olena in Ukrainian) was born in Jawirnyk, southeastern Poland, where she lived through WWII, the destruction of her family home and Ukrainian community and the forced resettlement by the Polish Communist authorities to northeastern Poland. She came to the United States with her family in 1967 to join her four sisters and brother and settled in Passaic. She was a quality control inspector for the Becton Dickinson Company for over 20 years, where she developed a life-long interest in medical needles and syringes. She was a devout parishioner of the St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church and a committed volunteer in the “pyrohy brigade” a formidable women’s army of dumpling makers who met each week to make traditional Ukrainian varenyky, whose sale brought in much needed revenue for the church and its school. She sang in the church choir for decades, performing at concerts, religious festivals and commemorations throughout NJ and NY. Helena was a happy member of the St. Nicholas Seniors Club and its monthly outings to Atlantic City Resorts Casino, where she said she never lost any money. She was a marvelous baker, producing cakes and tortes for various occasions and an expert at baking the traditional Ukrainian wedding bread called the korovai. Helena loved singing, gardening and all things Ukrainian. Her entire life was dedicated to her church and her native country Ukraine. Her knowledge of Ukrainian folk songs, particularly Lemko ones, was infinite. A master seamstress, she was naturally gifted with a flair for artistic creation, making necklaces out of small glass beads and charming wreaths from shells she collected on the beach. Fearless and intrepid she loved flying and traveling, at the age of 88 she went paragliding in Florida and was disappointed that the session wasn’t longer. A woman of strong faith and conviction, Helena spent her life living honestly, loving her family, Ukraine and America, growing her garden and always believing that God knew what he was doing.

Funeral from Marrocco Memorial Chapel – 470 Colfax Avenue, Clifton on Saturday at 9:15 AM then to St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church at 10 AM. Interment at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visiting Friday 4-8 PM. Parastas Friday at 7 PM.

A Divine Liturgy and Memorial Service will be celebrated for the 40th day of her death at the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family in Washington DC on February 25 at 11:30 AM. May her memory be eternal. Vichnaya Pamyat!

All are invited for a repast and celebration of Helena’s life at the Ukrainian Center in Passaic, NJ directly after the funeral.