1925
Helen
2015
Helen K. Pavlov
September 17, 1925 — May 17, 2015
Helen K. Pavlov, after enjoying a spaghetti dinner at home with her family in Youngstown on Sunday evening, May 17, 2015, turned in for her last nap. Her husband of 62 years, Joseph Pavlov, Jr., went to his bride for their nightly chat and found Helen had quietly died.
Born Haiganoush Simonoff on September 17, 1925 to a mother who survived the Armenian Genocide and a father who fled Russian Armenia to honor his beliefs, Helen grew up during the American Depression and learned to be resourceful, strong, and joyful as she, her family, and neighbors on the South Side of Youngstown banded together as a heterogeneous community. Her conviction to community survives in the many people she has generously and unobtrusively helped.
Helen was loved and is remembered by her husband, Joe, and their six children, Joseph (Maya), John (Pat), Catherine, George (Liz), Jennifer (Michael), and Helen, many relatives, including former daughter-in-law, Karen Pavlov, a multitude of loyal friends, and her cherished grandchildren, Gregory, Allison, Andrew, Kata, Natalie, Catherine, Caroline, Madeline, and Indigo, and her great grandchildren, Gabriel, Evelyn, and Nathaniel. Besides her parents, Helen was preceded in death by two brothers, Archie and Levon Simonoff and one sister, Roxanne Armile.
Helen, a tall, dark beauty, was a brilliant, no-nonsense person. During World War II, Helen served as a riveter in Youngstown's General Fireproofing factory. As a young woman, she worked downtown at Gray Drugs where she learned enough to last a lifetime. In fact, when her children as teens tried to pull the wool over her eyes, she looked at them fiercely and said, "Don't tell me - I worked at Gray Drugs!" Needless to say, there was no fooling Helen.
Aptly described by one of her grandchildren as a firecracker, by a cousin as a future thinker, and a great nephew as one tough cookie, Helen was an active community organizer before the phrase became mainstay. In particular, she advocated for workers' rights as a union organizer and was a long-time member of Associated Classified Employees (ACE), when she worked full-time in the Central Services office of Youngstown State University (YSU) after first working in the bookstore. She was heralded by international and out-of-state students as the woman to whom they could go for kindness, guidance, and an open home.
Helen also loved to read, sew, quilt, embroider, play cards, garden, cook, listen to Joan Baez, and nap. She loved her dog, Molly, and her cat, Bandit. Among her many volunteer activities, Helen was an active room mother at Byzantine Catholic Central (BCC) school.
A Mass will be said on Saturday, May 23 at 11:00 a.m. at Infant Jesus of Prague by Rev. Christopher Burke, and by Rev. Gregory Maturi of St. Dominic's, Helen's childhood church. The church will be open at 9:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. where people are welcome to gather; Helen did not want a funeral or calling hours and will be celebrated as she shines brightly in the night sky.
In lieu of flowers, send flowers to someone you love or donate money to your local animal shelter or library. Helen would be thrilled if you volunteer to read to a child, feed a hungry person, and welcome new members of your community with open arms.
Born Haiganoush Simonoff on September 17, 1925 to a mother who survived the Armenian Genocide and a father who fled Russian Armenia to honor his beliefs, Helen grew up during the American Depression and learned to be resourceful, strong, and joyful as she, her family, and neighbors on the South Side of Youngstown banded together as a heterogeneous community. Her conviction to community survives in the many people she has generously and unobtrusively helped.
Helen was loved and is remembered by her husband, Joe, and their six children, Joseph (Maya), John (Pat), Catherine, George (Liz), Jennifer (Michael), and Helen, many relatives, including former daughter-in-law, Karen Pavlov, a multitude of loyal friends, and her cherished grandchildren, Gregory, Allison, Andrew, Kata, Natalie, Catherine, Caroline, Madeline, and Indigo, and her great grandchildren, Gabriel, Evelyn, and Nathaniel. Besides her parents, Helen was preceded in death by two brothers, Archie and Levon Simonoff and one sister, Roxanne Armile.
Helen, a tall, dark beauty, was a brilliant, no-nonsense person. During World War II, Helen served as a riveter in Youngstown's General Fireproofing factory. As a young woman, she worked downtown at Gray Drugs where she learned enough to last a lifetime. In fact, when her children as teens tried to pull the wool over her eyes, she looked at them fiercely and said, "Don't tell me - I worked at Gray Drugs!" Needless to say, there was no fooling Helen.
Aptly described by one of her grandchildren as a firecracker, by a cousin as a future thinker, and a great nephew as one tough cookie, Helen was an active community organizer before the phrase became mainstay. In particular, she advocated for workers' rights as a union organizer and was a long-time member of Associated Classified Employees (ACE), when she worked full-time in the Central Services office of Youngstown State University (YSU) after first working in the bookstore. She was heralded by international and out-of-state students as the woman to whom they could go for kindness, guidance, and an open home.
Helen also loved to read, sew, quilt, embroider, play cards, garden, cook, listen to Joan Baez, and nap. She loved her dog, Molly, and her cat, Bandit. Among her many volunteer activities, Helen was an active room mother at Byzantine Catholic Central (BCC) school.
A Mass will be said on Saturday, May 23 at 11:00 a.m. at Infant Jesus of Prague by Rev. Christopher Burke, and by Rev. Gregory Maturi of St. Dominic's, Helen's childhood church. The church will be open at 9:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. where people are welcome to gather; Helen did not want a funeral or calling hours and will be celebrated as she shines brightly in the night sky.
In lieu of flowers, send flowers to someone you love or donate money to your local animal shelter or library. Helen would be thrilled if you volunteer to read to a child, feed a hungry person, and welcome new members of your community with open arms.
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