Sophie Helkowski

Our Beloved Mother, Sophie Helkowski, 97, of Sunrise, FL, passed away at home surrounded by her family on June 11, 2016. She was the oldest of 9 children, all 8 boys, of Victoria & John Konefal. She was born in Brooklyn, New York. As a young girl, she returned to Poland with her parents to help her aging grandparents. When she was 14, political unrest was taking place in Poland. Because she was an American citizen, her parents made the decision to send their dear only daughter back to New York. By hard work and perseverance, she proudly took care of herself in New York. Years later she met and married Stanley Bieniek and had a son Walter. Soon some of her brothers in Poland decided to come to New York, and she helped them all. That's one of the reasons she is referred to as the Matriarch of the Konefal family! Mom's dear husband passed away in January of 1964. Many years later she met and married another wonderful man, Stanley Helkowski. They moved to Florida and had a very happy life together.Those left to cherish her memory are her loving son Walter, his wife Marie, her grandson Walter Michael, his wife Sara, her great-grandson Walter Joseph, and her brothers John, Edward, and Frank Konefal. Her family will receive friends on Tuesday from 2-4 & 6-8 PM at the funeral home. A Mass of Christan Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, 11:00 AM at St. Bernard Catholic Church. Entombment will follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.