Helena Sofianopoulos
Helena Golowash Sofianopoulos, age 65, passed away on October 24 2017 in Houston Texas. She was born on February 26, 1952 in Porto Alegre, Brazil to Victor Golowash and Alla Filenko of Ukraine. Helena is survived by: her husband, Michael; and son, Christos; family and friends. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Temple University & a Master’s Degree from Villanova University studying Languages.
Having grown up in a dynamic world and continued the passion into college and in travels, she spoke English, Greek, German, Ukrainian, Russian, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese proficiently and several others casually. She was a loving wife and mother, always there to support and lift up. From her mother and grandmothers, she was amazing cook, always having some incredible meal prepared. She was a mother to all the neighborhood children and who could never leave the house without being fed, a big hug and usually a story. Referred to as the “Turtle Mobile” when transporting the neighborhood kids because she always drove slow and safe, but we all loved her. An amazing painter of water colors, pencil, and oils who studied with the & Greek Iconographers to keep the old painting styles alive. A voracious reader, consuming a book a week. Spending a fair bit of time in the yard, she had a knack for gardening, often harvested for use in cooking. Lastly, a world traveler. Parents from Ukraine, born in Brazil till her teens, then moved to the States. Studied abroad in Germany, and traveled to many countries all over the globe and adopted Greece as her favorite. She will be missed.
A viewing will be held on Sunday, October 29, 2017, 5:30 pm, at Crowder Funeral Home, 111 E Medical Center Blvd, Webster, TX 77598. The Church Service will be held on Monday, October 30, 2017, 10:00 am, at St. John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Church, 202 N Walnut, Webster, TX 77598
Helena was such a bright spot in all of lives for many years. She was an amazing friend and neighbor. I was and remain in awe of her talents in the kitchen (her Easter and Christmas breads were amazing), her talent as an artist and her ever-present smile. She grew a rosemary plant outdoors that was as big as an azalea, not to mention the beautiful orange trees that somehow appeared as if transplanted from Greece.
Not only was Helena a loving mother and wife to Christos and Michael, she was a loving care-giver to Matthew Van Horn when he was an infant. She and her mother Baba took amazing care of him in her home, giving him time at home before he had to go to day-care. She was truly a blessing, and we loved her for all she did.
My sincere condolences to Michael and Christos.
May her memory be eternal. My best to Michael and family.
Nadia Hayes
Our sincerest condolences to Michael, Christos, and other family members and friends. Helena was a very talented and warm person. She will be missed. May her memory be eternal.