Obituary of Helen Schick

Helen K. Schick peacefully passed away on January 13, 2018 at Pleasant View Retirement Community. Helen was born in Utica, NY to Walenty and Antonina (Niedzwiecka) Kisiel on October 30, 1926. She graduated from Utica Free Academy in 1944; the first in her family to go to college, she graduated from Albany State Teachers College in 1948. She moved to Poland, NY where she taught for ten years. In the course of those years, she married her beloved husband, Walter J. Schick, who had followed her from college. Helen and Walt married in 1950 and had two children upstate before moving to West Islip, Long Island in 1959 where two more “only children” were born. Helen retired upon having her first child, but with Walt’s encouragement, Helen became involve in many community activities. Her passion revolved around education and helping her community. Her volunteer activities included teaching first grade CCD, PTA at all levels, election to the local school board, being a docent at Sagtikos Manor, working on school and library budget votes, and a supporter the local orchestra group and public library. She spent many happy days volunteering at the Thrift Shop at St Joseph's Church in Babylon, of which she was a faithful parishioner. One of her proudest accomplishments was being a founding member of the West Islip Bicentennial Committee, which started with a community wide parade and celebration in 1976, and continues to this day with one of the largest craft and arts fair on Long Island, the West Islip Country Fair. She is survived by her four children: Bob (Donna) who reside in Niskayuna, NY; Kathy (Ryan Strait) who reside in Litiz, PA; Steve (Jacquelyn) from Garden City, NY; Linda (Jim Jurs) in Babylon, NY. She leaves behind her ten beloved grandchildren affectionately known as her Varsity consisting of Peter and Emily Schick; Becky (Chip Rizzo), Steve (Tori) Strait, Jeff Strait; and her JV squad composed of Brendan, Cate and Claire Schick; Amanda and Lauren Jurs. She is also survived by her brother, Ray Kisiel and brother-in-law Walter Reich and many, many beloved nieces and nephews. Reposing at the Fredrick J. Chapey & Sons West Islip Funeral Home, 1225 Montauk Hwy., Wednesday 2:00 PM until 4:30 PM and 7:00 PM until 9:30 PM. Celebration of the Liturgy of Christian Burial, Thursday 10:00 AM, at St. Josephs R.C. Church, Babylon, LI.  Reposing at McGrath, Myslinski, Karboski & Nunn Funeral Directors, 470 French Road, Utica, NY Friday 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM. Interment to follow at Holy Trinity Cemetery, Utica, NY.