Obituary of Helen P. Rozycki

Rozycki, Helen P. (Lauritzon) 92, a longtime resident of Minneapolis, died December 5, 2014, at The Pines, Richfield, MN. Born in 1922 in Pine River, MN, to Ellen and William Lauritzon, Helen graduated from St. Francis HS in Little Falls and met her husband, Raymond V. Rozycki, at a University of Minnesota school dance the winter before getting her degree in nursing. They were married at MacDill Army Air Base in Tampa, FL, on November 13, 1943. With her husband Ray, Helen raised eight children. She was a Cub Scout leader, a Girl Scout cookie chair, a school nurse, a PTA member and an active parishioner at Annunciation, Resurrection and St. Joan of Arc churches. In the mid-1960s she discovered she had a passion and talent for community activism. She took her expertise in the neurological development of children and co-founded the organization that brought the Doman-Delacato patterning treatment to Minnesota. Helen trained volunteers in her home before the program expanded and moved to Christ Child School. She was the driving force behind the creation of the United Handicapped Federation and Metro Mobility. Helen took up aerobic exercise in the early 1970s and soon became an instructor at the Blaisdell YMCA. She taught aerobics, senior aerobics and water aerobics for 30 years, retiring when she was 82. She was an active member of the League of Women Voters, and board chair for eight years at Nokomis Healthy Seniors. She enjoyed her flower gardens, dancing and jigsaw puzzles. Yet, Helen may be most remembered for her radiant smile. Preceded in death by her husband, Raymond V. Rozycki; sisters Ruth Mary, Monica and Marcella; and brother Robert. Survived by children, Tom (Karyn), Margaret, William (Soren), Mary Beth Knapp (Don), Peter, Paul (Brenda), Ramona Welter (Ben) and Marcie Spahi (Nadim); 14 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Anna Mae Floura, Margaret Lais and Miriam Lauritzon; and many nieces, nephews and friends. Funeral Mass at St. Joan of Arc Church, 4537 3rd Ave S., Mpls. 5 pm Friday, Dec. 12. Visitation and storytelling to follow the Mass. Memorials preferred to Nokomis Healthy Seniors. Cremation Society of MN Mpls. 612-825-2435