Obituary of Helen L. Zelazny

Helen L. Zelazny, entered into rest peacefully at her home with family at her side on Sunday, July 10, 2022.

Born at home on Stork Street in Medina on January 25, 1933, Helen was a daughter of the late John and Ida (Waszak) Wanecski. She graduated from Medina High School in the class of 1950. On April 28, 1951 she married the late Walter Zelazny at the former Sacred Heart of Jesus R.C. Church. Mrs. Zelazny was an active parishioner at Sacred Heart Church, where she served as President of the Rosary Society. Upon its closing, she became a parishioner of Holy Trinity Parish, St. Mary’s Church. Mrs. Zelazny worked as the Orleans County Deputy Election Commissioner for 28 years and Election Commissioner for 14 years, retiring in 2008. She also did the bookkeeping for their family farm for many years. Mrs. Zelazny served as Vice Chairwoman of the Orleans County Democratic Committee and served on the NYS Democratic Committee. She volunteered at Medina Memorial Hospital at the greeter’s desk and was a member of the Busy Buddies. Helen enjoyed baking homemade pies, cooking traditional Polish dinners for Christmas and Easter and enjoyed reading and doing puzzles. She loved her children and grandchildren dearly.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Walter Zelazny in 2008; daughter, Deborah Zelazny Christensen in 1982; son, Stephen Zelazny in 2009; and siblings, Stanley (Teresa) Wanecski, Walter (Dorothy) Wanecski, Florence (Anthony) Banazwski and Rita (Henry) Mazur.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Michael (Mary) Zelazny, Lisa Zelazny and Tina (Timothy) Feldman; daughter in-law, Susan (Frank) Zelazny Slingerland; grandchildren, Thomson Kneeland, Kathryn Zelazny (Chris Carlson), Andrew (Sara) Zelazny, Nicole (Jason Keppler) Zelazny; Jacob (Kalie) Zelazny, Anastasia (Matthew Kline) Martin, Margaret (Andrew Hydock) Feldman, Elizabeth Feldman and Abigail Feldman (Torin Walters); great-grandchildren, Ella Zelazny, Arilyn and Lila Zelazny; a brother, Eugene (late Nancy) Wanecski; also several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, July 15 from 5-8PM at Cooper Funeral Home, 215 W. Center St., Medina. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, July 16 at 12PM at Holy Trinity Parish, St. Mary’s Church, 211 Eagle St., Medina. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Knights-Kaderli Memorial Fund, PO Box 684, Medina, NY 14103 or to Supportive Care of Orleans at www.supportivecareorleans.org.