Helen Popcun

Helen Popcun, 101, of Westvale, peacefully passed away on Sunday, August 3, 2025, joining her loving husband of 70 years, Edward, and her beloved son, Eddie, in heaven. She was born on February 12, 1924, to Stanley Gondusky and Maria Rybczyk in Naomi, Pennsylvania, a small rural coal-mining and steel community near Pittsburgh. Helen’s life began with hardship, losing her mother as a nine-month-old infant and being raised by her oldest sister, Della, through the Great Depression. Though she had to leave school early to help support her family, Helen never stopped learning, growing, and loving her family and friends. Her enduring faith and devotion became the hallmark of her life.

Helen met the love of her life, Edward Popcun, and they married on June 26, 1948. They began their life together by moving to Brooklyn while he completed his education at Pratt Institute in fashion design. A few years later, they moved to Syracuse to build a house and raise a family. Helen and Edward had four children: Eddie, Michele, James, and Mary Anne. She was instinctively a great mom and homemaker, not only taking care of the house but also supporting Edward’s growing beautician business. Helen always “looked the part,” with perfectly cut and styled hair courtesy of her husband’s talents.

She fully embraced her religious faith and Polish heritage. Helen was always active in her local church, St. Charles–St. Ann’s Parish, volunteering and donating a variety of baked goods, desserts, and traditional Polish dishes. Her love of cooking, which she inherited from her sister, was a lifelong craft that brought joy to her and her entire family. One never left Helen’s house without a full stomach and a handful of food. She was “Cook of the Week” twice in the Syracuse Herald-Journal—in 1963 and again in 2000—in recognition of her cooking and baking expertise and her desire to share her recipes with the world. Her dishes and desserts will be enjoyed by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren for decades to come. After her children grew and her husband retired, Helen and Edward spent their time together traveling, eating, drinking, and enjoying their family and countless friends. They were always known for their traditional family gatherings at Christmas and Easter, where the house filled with love and laughter.

Helen, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to many, will be deeply missed. She is survived by three children and her daughter-in-law: Michele Popcun, James (Elaine) Popcun, Mary Anne (Dennis) Kravitz, and Patti Popcun. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Melissa Popcun, Edward (Erin) Popcun, Joseph (Meghan) Popcun, Kyle Kravitz, and Andrew Kravitz; along with great-grandchildren: Meara Popcun, Nathan Popcun, Shannon Popcun, Walter Popcun, Arthur Popcun, and Ruth Popcun; as well as her niece, Kathy (Peter) Stockmann; and grand-nephews: Jason (Amanda) Stockmann and Matthew Stockmann.

Helen will be remembered for her last words when you said goodbye—if you told her you loved her, her response would always be, “I LOVE YOU MORE.” Those words will forever echo in the hearts of those who knew her.

To celebrate Helen’s life, relatives and friends are invited to gather on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Buranich Funeral Home, 5431 W. Genesee St., Camillus.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at noon in St. Charles–St. Ann’s Church, 417 S. Orchard Rd., Syracuse.

Helen will be laid to rest in Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Syracuse.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Helen’s memory may be made to Francis House, 108 Michaels Ave., Syracuse, NY 13208, or Hospice of CNY and of the Finger Lakes, 900 Seventh North St., Liverpool, NY 13088, or to the ALS Association Upstate New York Chapter, 135 Old Cove Rd., Ste. 213, Livepool, NY 13090.