Helen Frances (Bednarz) Smigiel

Helen Smigiel, age 99, of Grand Rapids, Michigan passed away on April 14, 2025. She died peacefully, surrounded by family and friends during her 100th Spring.

Helen was born in Grand Rapids on September 22, 1925 to John and Stefany Bednarz, into a family of nine brothers and sisters. She graduated from both Union High School and Grand Rapids Junior College during the mid to late 1940s. She married Clarence Smigiel and followed him and his work as an aero physics engineer to Minnesota, Southern California, and back to Grand Rapids in the late 1950s, where they remained, to raise their family.

Helen is preceded in death by her husband, Clarence (2016). She is survived by two children, David (former spouse, Nancy) Smigiel of Indiana and Mary (spouse, Steve) Algatt of Oregon. She has four grandchildren: Paul (Indiana) and Samantha (Indiana) from David; Adam (Michigan) and Peter (Washington) from Mary. She is further survived by several close relatives and many close friends.

Upon marriage, Helen dedicated her life to being a mother and homemaker. Nearly on a daily basis and in addition to her own, she hosted one or more of the many neighborhood children, in effect increasing the size of her own family. Later in life, these same kids still referred to her as Ma, Mom, etc. She actively supported the popular causes and charities of her time: Catholic Information Center, St. James Church and associated schools, March of Dimes, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, Humane Society, etc.

Helen often spoke of her fondest memories from early childhood: those of exploring the streams, lakes, swamps, woods, and fields available to her. Helen loved animals and had a fondness for plants. She passed this on to her children. If it walked, crawled, flew, or swam she rescued or raised many as pets. Among her many acquaintances here and just to scratch the surface were snakes, turtles, alligators, skunks, owls, opossum, racoons, squirrels, guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters, mice, rats, and dozens of exotic freshwater fish (she had an extensive aquarium collection). And of course, there were her dear cats and dogs. She raised a half-dozen pugs. Her first was Sui Ling, from the early 1960s. Her last was Lilly. She and her cherished Lilly spent their final years together, rocking in that old recliner in her living room.

Helen was truly a mother to her world. Her life was centered upon giving of herself. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family, caring for virtually all of her siblings and parents at the end of their respective lives. She was always available to help her family and community.

Helen was truly one of a kind. She is missed.

Thanks, Mom. Be with God.

Interment is planned for Saturday, July 26, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Resurrection Cemetery, 4100 Clyde Park Ave SW, Wyoming, MI. 

A Mass prior to interment is also scheduled for 9:00 AM, that same morning. Basilica of Saint Adalbert, 654 Davis Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI. 

Please join us. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Helen Frances (Bednarz) Smigiel, please visit our floral store.