HELEN ELVA KUMMER VINKOVICH
Helen Elva Kummer Vinkovich died on Monday, June 20, 2011 at St. Peter’s Hospital. She was 94 years old.
She was born to Stella Betcher Kummer and Robert Ernest Kummer on April 26, 1917 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her first 90 years were primarily spent in the Pittsburgh borough of West View.
Helen graduated from Perry High School in Pittsburgh in 1936, the first in her family to receive a high school diploma. The majority of her working years were spent as a clerk at Noone’s Pharmacy, a corner drug store and soda fountain in West View. When the pharmacy was torn down to make room for a large retail store, Helen retired at the age of 83.
On June 15, 1938, Helen was married to Alexander Anthony Vinkovich, a brewer with Pittsburgh Brewing Co. They were blessed with two daughters, Diane and Sue Ann. Alex and Helen worked tirelessly to provide a college education for their children, and they were extremely proud to have met that goal. Helen was a nurturing and affectionate mother. She loved her home, which she kept impeccably clean. She cooked and baked with passion and in abundance. Her cinnamon rolls and cookies were known throughout her hometown and beyond.
Helen lived a life of selflessness, caring, and compassion. She was ready to help with any task required by her family, her community, and the occasional stranger in need. A member of St. Athanasius Roman Catholic Church in West View, she sustained a great faith and her prayers were answered. She volunteered in several capacities in both her parish and her community, including Christian Mothers, Girl Scouts, Meals on Wheels,
and AARP.
In 2007, Helen moved to Hunters Pointe, where she lived independently until her final hospitalization.
Helen is survived by her daughters, Diane Helene Wiegman and husband Ron Wiegman of Lakewood, Colorado, and Sue Ann Buswell and husband Richard Buswell of Helena. Her grandchildren are Rhonda Wiegman Dick and husband Swithin Dick of Lakewood, Colorado, Kristin Diane Feth and husband Karl Feth of Morrison, Colorado, Erica Susanne Buswell and husband Scott Giroux of Searsport, Maine, Stephanie Buswell Burkholder and husband Braden Burkholder of Bozeman, and Timothy Sean Buswell of Helena. She is also survived by great-grandchildren Alex Dick, Cameron Dick, Liesel Feth, and Erich Feth, a sister-in-law, Helen Schaefer of Pittsburgh, and several nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Alex Vinkovich, her parents, Stella Kummer Raleigh and Robert Kummer, her sisters, Frieda Franz, Evelyn Naumann, and Dorothy Kummer, and her brother, Robert Kummer.
A gathering in remembrance of Helen will take place at Hunters Pointe on Wednesday, June 29 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
In 1970, Helen gave the life-giving gift of a kidney to her daughter Diane. In Helen’s memory, consider becoming an organ donor. Memorial donations may also be made in her name to Donor Alliance, 720 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite 800 N., Denver, CO 80246 or to the National Kidney Foundation of Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. 650 S. Cherry St., Suite 435, Denver, CO 80246. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.aswfuneralhome.com.
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Carol Powell Garside says
Sue and Diane and Families,
We were so sorry to hear of Mrs. Vink’s death. She was our second mom growing up with our common backyards. We wish that we could be there to attend the memorial, but know that Mum, Lin and I are with you in spirit and we will remember all of you in our masses and prayers. Mum was visiting us in Michigan and Lin and Mike were up in Halifax on a trip for the last couple of weeks and as such were unaware of her passing.
Love
Carol and Art Garside,
Helen Powell, and
Linda and Mike Irving and families