Helen N. Cyganiewicz Obituary

Helen Louise Newell Cyganiewicz, 85, of Marietta, Georgia, a longtime resident of Albany, died Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25, 2008 after a short illness. A prayer vigil will be held 6:00 pm with visitation lasting until 8:00 pm Sunday night, December 28, 2008, at Kimbrell Stern Funeral Directors. The funeral will be held 11:00 am Monday, December 29, 2008, at St. Teresas's Catholic Church with Father Finbar Stanton officiating.A native of Albany, Mrs. Cyganiewicz, the daughter of the late Lee Newell and Berta Hall Newell, was born on November 28, 1923, and attended Albany schools, graduating from Albany High School in 1942. Helen loved Albany and was proud to be a native Albanian. She once stated that if she could name the three phases of her life, the first phase would be called "She had a happy childhood with a loving mother." During the second phase of her life, "She worked hard to keep her family together, safe, and secure during the War and afterward". At eighteen years old she met and fell in love with a handsome lieutenant in the Army Air Force stationed at Turner Field named Alexander Thaddeus Cyganiewicz. The couple moved seven times during World War II. While living in Monroe, Louisiana, Helen gave birth to her daughter, Helen Veronica (Ronni) Bryan. Finally the family settled in Massachusetts, where "Cy" completed his degree in Civil Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and two sons, Louis (Louie) Cyganiewicz and Andrew Thomas Cyganiewicz, were born. After several years living in Massachusetts following graduation, Cy decided it was time to bring Helen back to Albany where her family was and where the weather was so good he could play golf and fish all year long. Helen once said that if she were to sum the third phase of her life in a sentence it would be "She did what she could to improve her community". During her life in Albany, Helen did civic work for which she was very proud. She "made this Albany a little bit of a better place for some young people". Citing her love for the outdoors, Helen followed her Aunt Margarite Hall's footsteps and became very active in the local Girl Scouts in the 1950's. Upon her return to the Albany area, Mrs. Cyganiewicz returned to the Flint River Girl Scouts, which is now a part of the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, and eventually served in every capacity. As Chair Camp Committee for the Flint River Girl Scouts Council, Mrs. Cyganiewicz was instrumental in getting the Girl Scouts a permanent campsite, which was given the name Camp Ohkitayakani. The lake at the campsite was named "Lake Cyganiewicz" after Helen and Cy, both of whom helped plan and build the camp. Later she became a long time President of the Flint River Girl Scouts Council. Helen remained on the Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts well into her later years. In April 2000, Helen was honored for 52 years of service to the Flint River Girl Scouts Council by being named one of two Women of Distinction at the 2nd Annual Southwest Georgia Women of Distinction Recognition Dinner.Helen loved Albany and was proud of her heritage. For these reasons, Mrs. Cyganiewicz also served the city in a number of other capacities. She volunteered for Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, was rewarded for more than 2100 hours of volunteer service, and was active in the Lights of Love project. Helen was also an active parishioner of St. Teresa's Catholic Church for more than fifty years. She served as president of the local council of Catholic women and went on to become deanery president. Mrs. Cyganiewicz also an Honorary Member of the Albany Women's Club, volunteered with Thronateeska Heritage Foundation. Helen was also a member of the Dawson Road Garden Club, which was one of the garden clubs in the Albany Federation of Garden Clubs, where she "planted flowers to make the city look beautiful". Helen and Cy were longtime members of Radium Springs Country Club and could often be seen enj

Helen N. Cyganiewicz Obituary

November 28, 1923 - December 25, 2008