Helen Anna Pataki Hahn, 95

July 09, 2017

Helen Anna Pataki Hahn, died on July 9, 2017 at the home of her daughter and son-in law in Ellicott City, Maryland. She was 95 years old.

She was the sixth of ten children born to Ignatius and Sophia (Dejak) Pataki and grew up in Palmerton, PA. She attended Saints Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church, where her father served as Cantor and her mother as the Sacristan. She graduated from Stephen S. Palmer High School and then received her Registered Nursing Degree from Saint Luke’s School of Nursing in Bethlehem, PA in 1943. She served in the United States Navy during World War II as a Navy Nurse, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade, and then upon her discharge as a School Nurse for the Bethlehem School District. On May 29, 1948, she married William Charles Hahn of Lancaster and enjoyed a wonderful marriage, until his death on October 18, 1987. They had six children: Michael Philip, husband of the former Judith A. Schmidt of Ashburn, VA, both of whom predeceased her; Mary Margaret, wife of Robert C. Kuziel of Ellicott City, MD, with whom she lived for the past seven years; Thomas Andrew, husband of the former Diane Chiodo of Ford City, PA; Stephen Charles, husband of the former Patricia M. Newman of Reading, PA; Rev. Peter Ignatius Hahn of Lancaster, PA; and Andrea Sophia, who died shortly after birth.

Helen was a homemaker for most of the early years of her married life. She and William raised their family in Lancaster City and were devout members of Saint Anne Catholic Church, where she served in numerous ways. She worked part time as a nurse at Lancaster Osteopathic Hospital and later at Lancaster General Hospital. She then worked for five years as an Industrial Nurse at Armstrong Cork Company, and then for ten years as a Caseworker and then Supervisor for the Lancaster Office of the Department of Public Welfare. In retirement, she volunteered generously with Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster Regional Hospital, A Woman’s Concern (formerly Birthright), Meals on Wheels, and Saint Anne’s Retirement Center.

Helen’s Catholic Faith was her most defining characteristic and she tried to share that faith with all who knew her. She is survived by her children and their spouses, and by 13 grandchildren: Matthew Hahn (Prudence) of Pittsburgh, PA, Julia Dickson (Robert) of Hyattsville, MD, Sophia Raj (Guru) of Seattle, WA, William Hahn (Amanda) of Allentown, PA, Major Philip Hahn, USAF, (Krista) of Pittsburgh, PA, Anne-Helene Goshco (John Patrick) of Alexandria, VA, Rebecca Larson (Scott) of Pittsburgh, PA, Kathryn Hahn of Alexandria, VA, Captain Alexander Kuziel, USA, (Major Kathryn. USA) of Cameron, NC, Mary LeDonne (Brandon) of Beaver, PA, Andrew Hahn of Alexandria, VA, Mark Hahn of Reading, PA and James Hahn of Reading, PA and 13 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Margaret Rendish of Fayettville, NC and a sister-in-law, Elizabeth Pataki of Cincinnati, OH and by numerous nieces and nephews, their spouses and their children and grandchildren. Eight of her siblings predeceased her: Ignatius, Mary, Ann, Julia, her twin brother, Deacon Michael, Charles, Sophia, and the Most Reverend Andrew Pataki, former Bishop of the Byzantine Eparchy of Passaic, NJ.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint Leo the Great Catholic Church, 2427 Marietta Avenue, Lancaster PA, on Monday, July 17, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. with her son, the Reverend Peter I. Hahn, as Celebrant. A Viewing will be held on Sunday afternoon, July 16, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lancaster, PA with the Rite of the Christian Vigil Service and recitation of the Holy Rosary beginning at 5:45 p.m. There will also be a Viewing in the Narthex of Saint Leo the Great Catholic Church on Monday morning, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at the Saint Mary’s Catholic Cemetery immediately following the Funeral Mass with Military Honors.

In lieu of flowers, the family would request donations to Saints Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary, 3605 Perrysville Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15214, A Woman’s Concern, 616 North Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602, or Saint Leo the Great Catholic Church, 2427 Marietta Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17601.