Obituary of Helen M. Klecha

Helen M. Klecha, 86, formerly of Kingston, passed away Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009, at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, surrounded by her family. Born in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of the late Adolph and Nellie Valevas Kadish. She resided in Kingston for the majority of her life. Helen was a graduate of Kingston High School, Class of 1941. She was a member of St. Ignatius Church, Kingston. In her younger years she belonged to the Susquehanna Trailers hiking club, enjoyed playing cards with friends, traveled throughout the United States, loved watching her children play sports and dedicated herself to family and community. In her most recent years, she enjoyed watching ballroom dancing and the Pennsylvania polka on WVIA-TV, as well as game shows. Throughout her life, she remained an avid reader and faithful viewer of "All My Children." Her favorite pastime was spending time with family and friends. She could never pass up a good laugh or a Milky Way bar. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Michael Kraftician and John Klecha; brothers, Albert, Joseph and Edward Kadish; as well as her sister, Genevieve Katoski. Surviving are children, Connie Butler, West Wyoming; Diane Piekanski and her husband, Stanley, Larksville; John Klecha and his wife, Mary Ann, Fairfield, Conn.; Paul Klecha and his wife, Jan, Kingston; Susan O'Donnell and her husband, Tim, North Kingstown, R.I. Helen also leaves behind 10 grandchildren; three great-grandsons; sister, Agnes Alson, Wyandotte, Mich.; brother, Adolph Kadish, Swoyersville; and several nieces and nephews. The funeral will be held Monday at 9:30 a.m. from Betz-Jastremski Funeral Home Inc. 568 Bennett St., Luzerne, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Ignatius Church, Kingston. Interment will be in St. Mary's Annunciation Cemetery, Pringle. Friends may call Sunday, 4 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made to the Kingston Ambulance, 600 Wyoming Ave., Kingston, PA 18704.