Helen Marie (Karas) Sopko

Helen Marie Sopko, 96, formerly of Baden, fell asleep in the Lord at Masonic Village, Sewickley on January 26, 2022. Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of the late Nick and Anna Pinko Karas, and moved to Ambridge while still an infant. During World War II, she did her service as a crane operator at American Bridge Company. Having married near the war’s end, she nurtured two sons in Baden and re-entered the workforce when they began their own education. Always a superlative cook, her two most beloved positions were as head of the Ridge Road Elementary School cafeteria in Economy and as a chief caterer for the Holy Ghost Orthodox Church Youth Center in Ambridge. As a life-long member of Holy Ghost Church, she was its oldest parishioner at her passing. She loved cooking for others and her infectious personality was always conveyed through her eternal smile and her “happy-go-lucky” attitude. She was lucky in her leisure time as well, winning innumerable bingo jackpots and outlasting many “one-armed bandits” in various casinos, both locally and around the country. And, no matter their record, she remained an indefatigable Pirates fan throughout her life and rarely missed a televised game in her retirement. Surviving her are two sons and a daughter-in-law, Andrew J. Sopko, Baden, and Richard A. and Lillian Sopko, Franklin Park, two grandchildren, Tyler Sopko and his fiancée Cheyenne Kelly, Economy, and Brent Sopko and his wife Amber as well as two great-grandchildren, Reign Sopko and Berlynn Sopko. Also surviving are two step-grandchildren, Samantha and her husband Brian Schilling, Ross Twp., and Joseph and his wife Jenita Apel, McCandless Twp., four step great-grandchildren Blake Schilling, Brock, Mack and Cole Apel, a brother-in-law, James Sopko, Baden, a sister-in-law, Hazel Sopko, Harmony, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 74 years, Andrew, three brothers, Michael, Peter, and Steve Karas , and two sisters, Anna Karas and Julia Lemon. Friends will be received Saturday, January 29, 2022 from 9:30am, until the time of the funeral service at 10:30am at Holy Ghost Orthodox Church, 210 Maplewood Ave, Ambridge, with the Very Rev. Fr. William Evansky officiating. Interment will follow at Economy Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Holy Ghost Orthodox Church. BOHN-MATICH FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., 1099 Maplewood Ave., Ambridge, is in charge of arrangements.

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