HELEN P. NYERGES

March 25, 1918 - Dec. 5, 2009
SOUTH BEND - Helen P. Nyerges, 91, passed away December 5, 2009, surrounded by two generations of family members. Helen was born March 25, 1918, in Cleveland, Ohio, the daughter of Lithuanian immigrant parents, John Peculaitis and Anna Sienkiewicz.

In 1936 she graduated with honors from Central Senior High School in South Bend, Indiana.

During the war years she trained and worked as a comptometer operator, and on October 10, 1943, married Pfc. Anton N. Nyerges of South Bend. In the 1950s and 1960s, Anton was a career American Foreign Service Officer and, together, Helen and Anton traveled widely, living at various times in Budapest, Hungary, Salzburg, Austria, Frankfort, Germany, Tel Aviv, Israel, and Teheran, Iran, as well as in Washington, D.C., Madison, Wisconsin, and Bethesda, Maryland. In 1969 Anton retired from the foreign service and they settled in Richmond, Kentucky. There Helen attended Eastern Kentucky University and received an A.A. degree in 1973, a B.S. degree in Interior Design in 1978, and an M.S. degree in Industrial Technology in 1979.

Following Anton's death in 1989, Helen resumed her world travels, visiting many of the countries where she had previously lived and others throughout Europe. In 2000 she moved to Danville, Kentucky, to be closer to family. Following a prolonged illness during 2004, she moved into Tanbark Health Care Center, Lexington, Kentucky, where she had resided since. Helen is survived by her brother, Victor Stonevic of Chicago, Illinois; her daughter, Nora N. Baker of Bethesda, Maryland; her son-in-law, Les Baker; and grandchildren, Susan Helen Saniie and Benjamin P. and Catherine L. Baker; and by her son, A. Endre Nyerges of Lexington, Kentucky; her daughter-in-law, Lee X. Blonder; and grandchildren, Eva X. and Lucas A. Nyerges.

In addition to her husband, Anton, she was preceded in death by her sister, Nellie (Angela) Ladewski of St. Joseph, Michigan. Helen was blessed with nieces, nephews, their children and many friends, all of whom she loved dearly.

Funeral services will be conducted at noon Saturday, December 12, 2009, in the Zahoran Funeral Home, 1826 Kemble Avenue. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Family and friends may call from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Catholic Action Center, P.O. Box 324, Lexington, KY 40588.

Published by South Bend Tribune on Dec. 10, 2009.

02/17/2023 EJS