Helen Stella Friedrich, 81, passed away Dec. 5, 2007, peacefully in her sleep with her daughter Patricia at her side at Heritage Park Care Center in Carbondale. She was born Feb. 10, 1926, in Detroit, to Stanley and Katherine (Tonderus) Romaszko.Helen met Peter Friedrich at their favorite polka bar shortly after Peter returned from World War II, and they’ve been polkaing ever since. They were married April 3, 1948, at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Detroit. Helen was a devoted wife and loving mother. She was also a retail clerk in Detroit. She had been a Carbondale resident for the past four years. She was a member of St. Vincent Catholic Church in Basalt and St. Mary’s of the Crown Church in Carbondale. Helen was a kind, gentle and generous soul, always placing others before herself, and never expecting anything in return. Helen was especially fond of children and animals, and maintained a sense of humor to the end. Besides speaking the English language, Helen fluently spoke Polish. Helen will be forever missed by those who knew and loved her. May all who knew and loved Helen “pay kindness forward.”Survivors include her loving husband; daughter Patricia Ann Friedrich and Patricia’s friend Joseph Meade; sister Barbara Uryga; brothers-in-law John (Evelyn) Friedrich and Herbert (Ann) Kaltz; nieces and nephews Joseph (Cheryl) Uryga, Barbara Szymanski, George (Catherine) Suwarow, George (Janice) Messina, David Uryga, James Uryga, Mark (Monica) Uryga, Lewis (Katherine) Thumm, John (Linda) Friedrich, Judy and Suzi Friedrich, Michael (Chrissy) Friedrich, Edward (JoAnn) Van Hoeck, Ronald (Beverly) Simon, and Herbert (Karen) Kaltz; and many other nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews. Helen was preceded in death by brothers William, Edward and Marcel Romaszko; and brother-in-law John Uryga.A brief viewing will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 7, at St. Mary’s of the Crown Catholic Church in Carbondale, followed by a mass of the resurrection at 11 a.m. at the church. Fr. Jose will officiate. Interment will be held at Evergreen Cemetery on Village Road in Carbondale.The family suggests memorials be sent to Roaring Fork Hospice, P.O. Box 1970, Glenwood Springs, CO 81602.