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COLUMBUS - Helen E. Tomich, 65, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026.
Helen was born May 28, 1961, in Youngstown, a daughter of Michael P. and Mary Rose Hamrock Tomko.
She was a 1979 graduate of Ursuline High School and attended Choffin Career and Technical School. She grew up in Coitsville Township.
Helen married the love of her life, John A. "Yunko" Tomich, on Feb. 4, 1989, and they shared 37 wonderful years of marriage until his passing on Feb. 19, 2026.
Following her marriage to John, she lived in Rootstown, Poland and Wallingford, Connecticut, for 21 years. She and John then settled in Johnstown, Ohio, in 2019.
In her early adulthood, Helen worked in office management for several companies and then became a devoted homemaker. She did a substantial amount of volunteer work for many schools while living in Connecticut.
In June of 1984, Helen was a pioneer by being one of the first patients to receive a successful liver transplant at UPMC in Pittsburgh. This life-saving treatment gave her 42 years of love, life and memories that otherwise she would not have had.
Helen was a devout Catholic and was a parishioner of The Church of the Ascension in Johnstown and also Christ the Good Shepherd Parish in Campbell.
She enjoyed cooking and baking and was famously known for her clothespin cookies. Helen was a very social person who enjoyed organizing parties and any social gatherings. She loved traveling the world with her husband, John, and especially enjoyed going to Croatia.
Helen was very kind, and people flocked to her bubbly and welcoming personality. She had friends from all walks of life that loved her deeply, some going back to her early childhood.
Helen will be deeply missed and always remembered by her brothers, Timothy M. (Christine) Tomko of Liberty and Michael P. (Carole) Tomko of Columbus; her sister, Terry (Richard) Fricker of Charlotte, North Carolina; along with numerous nieces, nephews, godchildren and cousins whom she loved dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John; and a brother, Edward J. Tomko, who passed away in 1998.
Helen's family has entrusted her care to the Wasko Funeral in Campbell, where calling hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.
Prayers will be offered at 10:15 a.m. at the funeral home on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, followed by a Memorial Mass at 11 a.m. at Christ the Good Shepherd Parish in Campbell.
Helen will be laid to rest next to her husband in St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Cemetery in Lowellville.
For those that wish, the family asks that memorial contributions be made in Helen's name to either Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, 397 South Jackson St., Youngstown, Ohio 44506, or Church of the Ascension, 555 South Main St., Johnstown, Ohio 43031.
Visit www.waskofamily.com to view this obituary and to leave condolences with the family.
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