Helen Giselle Schwitzer

Helen Schwitzer of Stockholm, SK passed away on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 at the Centennial Special Care Home, Esterhazy at the age of 102 years.

Grandma Helen was born May 9, 1918 on the family farm north of Stockholm to Frank and Anne Szumutku.  When she was four years old, she went to live with her Aunt and Uncle, Mary and Victor Schaufert. She attended Stockholm Public School and finished her schooling at R. C. Separate School.  As a young girl she loved to play ball and was part of a rare “All Girls” baseball team.  She loved singing, dancing and playing games.

Helen married James Schwitzer on April 14, 1934.  They were blessed with five children:  Wilfred, Daniel, Devona, Muriel and Loretta.  The eldest was a very premature baby and only lived a couple days.

Grandma and Grandpa farmed for many years north west of Stockholm.  They retired to a new home in Stockholm in 1964.  They were founding members of the Silver Social Club and enjoyed cards, bingo, shuffleboard, as well as Potluck meals.  Grandma was a member of the CWL for over 50 years.

Grandma and Grandpa were married 55 happy years.  Grandpa passed away in March of 1990.  In 2009, Grandma moved from her home to Senior Housing in Stockholm.  She made many more moves before taking up her final residence in Esterhazy Centennial Special Care Home, which she called home for the past four years.

During this time Gramma made new friends, was a neighbor to old friends, and continued to play cards, bingo, curling and all the social activities offered.  She looked forward to the weekly Mass and to her “Rosary Group”.  Her faith and belief in God brought her comfort and peace her whole life.  Because of Gramma’s strong faith, we know she has reached her final home with God.

Thanks to Grandma, we could all play canasta by the time we were six years old.

Thanks to Grandma, our kids could all play Bingo by the time they were two.

Thanks to Grandma was all grew up eating the best poppy buns, homemade chicken soup and jam jam cookies. 

We could always count on Grandma to attend every family gathering, but her reply to every invitation was …“if I’m still here”.

Thanks to Gramma I learned portulaca is a weed to be pulled and put into the garbage immediately, and that a peony was a beautiful perennial that came back every year.

Thanks to Grandma, I can prune a mean Rose bush; and I know to get rid of a cutworm; but an earthworm is good for the soil.

Grandma was our families greatest social butterfly.  She connected with every generation; she made friends easily and everyone loved her.

Grandma never complained…she never uttered an unkind word.

This is the legacy she left us.

“We begin to remember not just that you died, but that you lived----and that your life gave us memories too beautiful to forget.

Helen was predeceased by her husband James, infant son Wilfred, daughter Loretta Novak, daughter-in-law Diane Schwitzer, son-in-law Stan (Sonny) Shivak; brother Joe Szumutku and wife Judy; sisters:  Mary and John Schwitzer, Anne and Jim Barilla, Elizabeth and Frank Seman, Marguerite and Alex Shivak, sister-in-law Lucille Szumutku.  She is survived by her sisters Sylvia Belsher, Dolores and Arnie Flegel, brother Frankie Szumutku, sons Daniel Schwitzer, and companion Donna, daughters Devona Shivak, Muriel (Chuck) Kenyon, son-in-law Rudy Novak, 17 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and 30 great-great grandchildren.