Obituary of Helen Smrstik

Helen M. Smrstik, 74, of Fredericks Road, entered into the peaceful arms of her Lord and Savior on February 19, 2016. Her beloved husband Al was with her, and her family was at her bedside. Born in Chicago IL, she was the oldest child of the late Rudolph and Lillian Janega. Helen was raised in Chicago and graduated from Alvernia High School in 1959. She married “the boy next door,” Aldrich R. Smrstik, on October 14, 1961. Their joyful marriage has lasted over 54 years. Their four children were born in Chicago, and they lived in Davenport IA for ten years before moving to Glenville in 1983. Helen was a teaching assistant at the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School from 1984 until her retirement in June 2015. Her gift for working with young adults was also evident in her teaching CCD and Confirmation classes at Immaculate Conception. Over the years “Mrs. S.” nurtured hundreds of young adults in their educational and spiritual development with love, patience and generosity. Helen’s interest in and dedication to the youth in her church and community came from the heart. Survivors include her husband Al; her sons John (Carren) Smrstik of Highland Village TX and Mark Smrstik (Judith Mejia) of Rexford NY; daughters Caroline Smrstik Gentner (Christof) of Wuerenlos, Switzerland and Jennifer Diamond (Nathan) of Vienna VA; brothers and sisters John Janega (Sheila) of Reston VA, Robert Janega (Pamela) of Chicago IL, Thomas Janega (Maureen) of Tacoma WA, Katherine Janega (Gerald Keenan) of Glencoe IL and Celeste Mann (Richard) of McHenry IL; and her ten cherished grandchildren Oliver and Pixley Diamond; Nikolai Gentner; Joseph, Elizabeth, Anne and James Smrstik; Isabel, Emma and Tuyche Smrstik. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Wednesday, February 24, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Saratoga Road, Glenville, with the Rev. Jerome Gingras officiating. Relatives and friends are welcome, and are also cordially invited to call at the Glenville Funeral Home, 9 Glenridge Road, on Tuesday, February 23, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Following Mass on Wednesday, a reception will be held at the parish hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions for Helen may be made to the City Mission, 516 Hamilton Street, Schenectady NY 12305, or to the Church of the Immaculate Conception.