Helen J. Brezna, 92

DOVER - Helen J. Brezna, of Dover, died Sunday morning, April 20, 2008, at home and in the loving care of her daughter, Marian Conway, in Sewell, N.J. She was 92.

Mrs. Brezna was born Feb. 8, 1916 in Glen Lyon, Pa., daughter of the late Stanley Kiewlak and Bertha (Smokowski) Kiewlak.

She was married to Maj. George Brezna. As a military wife she moved often and lived in Pennsylvania, Kansas, California, Alaska and New York.

After her husband passed away in 1955, Mrs. Brezna moved to Trenton, N.J., where she raised her five children as a single mom. She always put her family first. For many years, while living in Trenton, she cooked at and managed an elementary school cafeteria.

When her children were grown she moved to Fairborn, Ohio.

About nine and a half years ago, Mrs. Brezna, fondly known to her family as "Nona" and "Nona-the Great," moved to Dover to be closer to her relatives on the East Coast, especially her grandson and his wife, Christopher and Marie-Paule Moore.

She always kept busy and loved to cook, bake, shop for bargains, and above all, she loved going to bingo at the Dover Elks Lodge. She was also fond of changing her bathroom décor regularly to match the holiday seasons.

Mrs. Brezna was a member of Holy Cross parish in Dover.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George Brezna; her sisters, Anastacia Kiewlak and Lottie LaManna; her brother, Bruno Kiewlak; her great-grandson, Max Korte; and her son-in-law, Lloyd Moore.

She is survived by her daughters, Bernice Moore of Vero Beach, Fla., Michaelene Manus of Dallas, and Marian Conway of Sewell, N.J.; her sons, George (Fran) Brezna of Falls Church, Va., and Paul (Carmen) Brezna of Niceville, Fla.; grandchildren, Christopher (Marie-Paule) Moore, Timothy Moore, Victoria (Mark) Rixon, Teresa Showalter, Gabrielle (Al) Green, Danielle (Dan) Hoben, Matthew Manus, Erin (Ken) Korte, Col. Frank Conway, David and Robert Brezna, Katrina Brezna and Christopher Mosley; great-grandchildren, Jason and Alexander Moore, Ryan and Sean Rixon, Sydney and Stephanie Showalter, Conor and Payton Green, Shane and Caelin Hoben, and Kole and Dylan Korte; sister, Josephine "Babe" Czarnomski; brothers, Frank (Julie) Kiewlak and Chet (Theresa) Kiewlak; a very dear nephew, Richard (Pat) Kiewlak; brother-in-law, Steve Brezna; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends, including her many relatives in Belarus and Poland.

Funeral services and interment will be 2:45 p.m. May 29 at Arlington (Va.) National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul, Mary Help of Christian Church, 954 N. Maple Ave., Fairborn, OH 45324 (her favorite charity to which she regularly donated a percentage of her bingo winnings); or to a charity of choice.

Arrangements are in the care of Egizi Funeral Home in New Jersey.