Life-long opera fan and marvelous cook
Posted on July 16, 2016
LYNNFIELD — Helen Tomich died peacefully surrounded by her family at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston on Wednesday, July 15, 2015. She was 90 years young. The daughter of the late Andrew and Anna (Sekeliy) Blitvich, Helen was born in New York City and spent her early years in Highlands, N.J. helping in her father’s grocery store.
She graduated high school in Queens, NYC where she was a bright student. During WWII, she was the president of the local USO Club. After working for Kolsman Company, she married Michael Tomich, an aeronautical engineer who worked for General Electric, and subsequently raised her three children in Lynnfield. When Michael temporarily retired in 1988, Helen accepted an offer from her son to work in his office where she thrived for the next 27 years.
Helen grew up during the Depression and, having known hardship, she gave generously to others in need and touched many lives. She was a marvelous cook who was legendary for sharing her home cooking. Helen and Michael were life-long opera fans and attended many performances over the years, both locally and at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. However, her greatest joy was delighting in the accomplishments of her children and grandchildren. She was truly a remarkable woman who lived a good life, a long life and a full life.
Helen is survived by Michael, her loving husband of over 60 years; her son John and his wife Susan of Lynnfield; her daughter Carol-Ann Sullivan and her husband Joseph of Peabody; and her son Paul and his wife Lisa Stevenson of Brookline. Additionally, she is survived by her sister, Catherine Wubberhorst of North Miami, Fla. and her brother, Nicholas Blitvich of Bradenton, Fla. She is also survived by four grandchildren: David and Jennifer Tomich, both of Brookline, Theresa Sullivan of Troy, N.Y. and Daniel Sullivan of Peabody.
Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Sunday, July 19 from 1-3 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Her funeral from the McDonald Funeral Home will be held on Monday, July 20 at 9 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass at St. Maria Goretti Church, 112 Chestnut St., Lynnfield at 10 a.m. Interment will be in the Forest Hill Cemetery, Lynnfield.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Helen’s memory to: Boston Lyric Opera, P.O. Box 847897, Boston MA 02284. For directions and guestbook, visit www.mcdonaldfs.com.
