Helen Blacharczyk, nee Pietrykowski, age 89, of Belleville, Ill., born April 2, 1933 in Chicago, passed away December 10, 2022 at Mercy Hospital South, St. Louis, Mo., surrounded by her family.

Helen earned her BS in Nursing from Xavier College and served in the US Air Force as a nurse for 4 years. She married Joseph S. Blacharczyk November 7, 1959 at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Washington Park, Ill., and he preceded her in death in 1972. She continued her nursing career at various locations, primarily at HSHS St. Elizabeth Hospital where she was a pediatric nurse for over 35 years. She also worked at St. Teresa Catholic School's extended-care program. Helen was an avid reader and quilter and she loved to shop. She was especially proud of her Polish Catholic heritage.

In addition to her husband, she was also preceded in death by her son Kenneth; daughter-in-law Susan; and siblings Anthony, Josephine, and Stella.

Surviving are her children Frank (Suzanne) Blacharczyk, Dennis (Tammy) Blacharczyk, and Barb (Rodney) Mueth; grandchildren Joseph, Matthew (Shawnee), Aaron (fiance Shauna), Breanna, Amy (fiance Luke), Sarah, Rebecca (Bill), Brandon, Logan (Kassie), Nikki; bonus grandchildren Whitney (Scylyr), Jacob, Joshua, and Noah; and ten great-grandchildren.

Sign the guestbook at www.wfh-ofallon.com . Memorial donations are suggested to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

The family will receive friends from 9 – 11 am, Monday, December 19, 2022 at St. Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Church, 1910 West Belle St., Belleville. A Funeral Mass will follow at 11 am, with Msgr. William McGhee presiding. Burial will follow at Mt. Carmel Catholic Cemetery, Belleville, Ill.