Helen Brolick

Helen Johanna Brolick was a strong, caring woman who loved playing cards, socializing with her neighbors and faithfully attending St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Above all, though, she loved her friends and family. Underneath her quick sense of humor and cheerful outlook on life was a reservoir of strength, which those around her came to depend on. Always thinking of others before herself, Helen was both blessed by and a blessing to those she loved. By 1916 the city of Chicago was already a bustling metropolis. Multi-storied buildings lined the sidewalks and the new automobiles filled the streets. Ignatz and Philippina (Bluml) Andritch, who, like many of Chicago's residents, had emigrated from Austria in Eastern Europe, lived and worked in Chicago. The Andritch's owned a corner grocery store in the Pullman district and lived in a small apartment above the store. Philapina ran the store and cared for their son Edward while Ignatz worked in the store and along with being a blacksmith. On October 16, 1916 they welcomed a baby girl they named Helen Johanna. When son William arrived a few years later, the Andritch family was complete. Helen attended school in the Chicago area and was a good student, especially in math and geography. So good, that she was sometimes considered "teacher's pet". Helen went on to graduate from high school and then to secretarial college. However, her mother needed to make an extended trip back to Europe and Helen left school to work in the grocery store. While in high school, Helen met a young man named Henry "Hank" Brolick. She and a girlfriend were standing outside the school one day when Hank and a couple of his buddies drove by in a roadster with the top down. One of Hank's friends asked the girls if they wanted to go for a ride. Unable to resist the lure of a roadster with the top down, the girls said yes. Hank took a special liking to the pretty Helen and began visiting the store almost every day, presumably to buy cigarettes, but really to see Helen. The two started dating, and after two years they were married on February 7, 1937 in Chicago. For a while, the newly weds lived with Helen's parents above the store until they were able to get an apartment of their own. Helen continued to work at the store with Hank sometimes working as a butcher. He also made radios and had learned auto body repair. Their first son, Richard was born in August of 1938, followed by Henry six years later. With children in hand, Hank and Helen moved to Michigan, near Agnew, a tiny hamlet located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 31 and Michigan State Highway 45 in Ottawa County. Hank had relatives who lived in the area, and having visited as a boy, decided it was a good place to raise a family. With his auto repair skills, Hank started a gas station/auto repair service with his brother Bill, called Brolick's Shell Service. Helen was often the errand runner for the station, along with caring for their two boys. However, when the new highway came through, the old station was torn down and a new one was built - right on the corner of US-31 and M-45. When daughter Joan was born in 1953, the Brolick's decide it was time for a bigger home. They eventually built a home on M-45 and lived there for over 40 years. Helen loved people. She loved to socialize and be surrounded by friends and family. Playing cards was a favorite pastime and she belonged to several card clubs. Sometimes Hank played also. She also enjoyed playing Dominoes, Scrabble and doing crossword puzzles. Every now and then she and Hank would go out for an evening of dancing, especially the polka. Helen was a wonderful mother and wife. She had learned to sew from her mother and made many of Joan's clothes, beautiful clothes according to Joan. She was a great cook and always looked forward to when all her family was there so she could spoil them with her specialties. German ethnic foods, Eastern European dishes she had learned from Hank's aunt, apple strudel and potica - a bread nut roll with sugar and honey- were family favorites. When Hank suffered a heart attack and needed to take several months off from work, Helen came to the rescue. She took a job at Zelenka Evergreen Nursery, preparing the seeds for planting and making cuttings. She worked off and on at the greenhouse for nearly 20 years, retiring in the mid 1970's. With retirement came traveling, fishing, and Helen's favorite, socializing. She kept up with her Women's Card Clubs playing pinochle and other penny ante games. Later in life, when Helen could no longer drive, her granddaughter, Kim, would take her to Card Club. When asked how she did, Helen would jokingly reply "I lost a dime." She also liked to take a chance on Lotto and Keno. Helen had been blessed with three wonderful children, who increased her blessings by giving her nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Helen maintained a strong interest in how her family was doing, especially financially, and was extremely proud that she had attended all of her grandchildren's weddings. Her son Rich lived near by and he and his daughter, Kim, made sure all of his mother's needs were taken care of. Her other son, Henry, lived out of town and Helen eagerly looked forward to his phone calls and the videos he sent. He always made her laugh. Joan, being the baby girl, had a special bond with her mother. When husband Hank's health began to fail - he had bad hearing and had lost much of his eyesight -Helen became his caregiver, a job she did with tender, loving care. After being married for over 60 years, Helen lost her beloved Hank in 2003. She had been suffering, although with no complaints, from arthritis for many years, and with Hank gone, life became very lonely. Helen sold the house, moved into an apartment, and then into Christian Haven. Her final home on this earth was Robinswood Living Center. Helen Brolick, age 89, died February 19, 2006. She was preceded in death by her husband Hank and her brother Edward. Her family includes her two sons, Richard (Sheri) Brolick of Spring Lake, Henry (Sharon) Brolick of Tulsa, OK; one daughter, Joan (David) Thompson of Fowlerville, MI; brother William Andritch of Denver, CO; sister-in-law Bianca Brolick of Grand Haven; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Friends may visit with the family on Tuesday, February 21 from 2-4 and 7-9 at the Clock Life Story Funeral Home in Grand Haven. Services will be Wednesday February 22 at 10:30 am at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Please visit Helen's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a favorite memory, sign the online guest book or make a memorial contribution.