Helen Radziusz Saniuk

PORTLAND - Helen Radziusz Saniuk of the Greater Portland area passed away peacefully on Sunday October 23, 2011. She was born in Portland, Maine the daughter of Eliasz and Maria Victoria Radziusz. Her parents upon arriving from Poland were among those early immigrants who built St. Louis Church. Helen grew up in the Polish neighborhood on Brackett Street. She attended local schools graduating from Portland High School. Helen earned an assistant teaching certificate upon her graduation. In her youth, she was a model for a local store. During World War II, she worked for the telephone company. After the war, she worked at Union Station for the Boston and Maine Railroad. Helen was a member of the Great Generation that survived the Great Depression and WWII. She had an extensive career in the retail field to include managing housewares at Grant's Department Store on Congress Street until it closed. Helen was a very hard worker for all of her life. She married Frank Michael Saniuk and had two children Frank Joseph, and Victoria. Recently, she became a founding member of the Maine Division of the Polish American Congress. She showed amazing amounts of strength and courage along with humor. She was a kind, gentle lady with real strength and wisdom. Helen was a lifelong communicant of St. Louis Polish Church in Portland. She was also a communicant of Sacred Heart while raising her children. She was predeceased by her parents, her brothers Michael and John, her husband Frank Michael and her son Frank Joseph as well as the beloved family sheltie Kasia. Helen is survived by her daughter Victoria of who she was very proud, her brother Joseph, who she regularly brought his favorite Amato sandwich. Visitation will be held Tuesday October 25, 2011 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Conroy Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway South Portland. Wednesday a 10:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Louis Catholic Church, Danforth Street, Portland. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. Online Condolences for Helen Saniuk