Helen J. Myder, 99, of Summerville, SC passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her loving family on September 2nd, only 11 days from her 100th birthday. Helen was born on September 13, 1916 in Dupont, PA, daughter of the late Sophie and Francis Caban. She was predeceased by her husband Joseph, 3 sisters and a brother. She is survived by her dear sister Gladys Gwiazdzinski (Stanley), daughters Adele and Nancy Myder of Summerville, SC, and Janet Myder (James Hammack) of’ Mount Pleasant, SC; granddaughters Kristen McMullen (John) and Stacy Stagliano (John); great grandchildren Katie and John Michael Stagliano; and 18 nieces and nephews in the U.S. and Poland.
Helen lived a long and fulfilling life. She was raised in Goscieszyn, Poland and returned to the U.S. in 1938 where she remained for the rest of her years. She settled in Greenwich (Glenville), CT in 1941 when she married Joseph. They were married for 63 years and raised 3 daughters. He passed away in 2004 and Helen moved to South Carolina 3 years later to a new house close to her family.
Helen never forgot her large family in Poland. Many hundreds, if not thousands of letters to and from her sisters, brother, nephews and nieces are a testament to her continued close connection to her homeland and the family she left behind.

Helen was devoted to helping people, both as a nurse aide in nursing homes and through volunteering in her community and her daughters’ schools, helping friends and neighbors, and sorting donations at charitable organizations. Helen was a devout parishioner of St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in Greenwich for 66 years. She was active in the St. Paul’s Rosary Society and served on the church’s lay advisory board that mapped out the parish future and established building plans. She was welcomed as a parishioner at St. John the Beloved Church in Summerville.

Visitation will be held on September 9th from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Castiglione Funeral Home, 544 Old Post Road #3, Greenwich, CT. Funeral service will be held on September 10th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, 84 Sherwood Avenue in Greenwich, followed by burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery. A gathering in Summerville, SC for family and friends to celebrate Helen’s life will be announced at a later date.
Helen’s daughters sincerely thank Ron and Janet Kaminski for the many years of love and support they gave to Helen; Carrie Belle Maxwell for her dedication and caring during Helen’s last years; and to dear friend Grace Shorter and the many Summerville neighbors who befriended and loved Helen as a newcomer and very special lady.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Helen’s memory to Katies Krops (katieskrops.com; P.O. Box 1841, Summerville, SC 29484), St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, stjude.org; 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or the Frances R. Willis SPCA, www.summervillespca.org; 136 Four Paws Lane, Summerville, SC 29483.)

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