HOMBOSKSY, Helen

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 11/14/2014 Helen Weise Hombosksy died Nov. 3, 2014, after a long illness. She was born Nov. 24, 1931, in Brooklyn N.Y., but lived most of her school years in Englewood, N.J. When Helen was 2 years old, she spent many years in hospitals due to a lung disease, which ultimately resulted in the first pneumonectomy performed at Bellevue Hospital in New York in 1936 and 1937. It was the first to succeed and was written in the New England Medical Journal in 1955-56. She was known in the medical circles as the “miracle child.” Helen leaves behind her beloved husband Ralph; daughters Kara Holcombe of Show Low and Christine Erickson of Spartansburg, S.C.; son Ralph Gruner of Texas; grandson Andy Nasseef of Chandler; granddaughters Kelly Holcombe of Tucson and Jessica Erickson of Spartansburg, S.C.; and two great-granddaughters and two great-grandsons. She was preceded in death by her brother, David Weise of Tucson. Helen was politically and civically active for many years, having served as president of the Republican organization. She was also the first woman to run for city council where she served for many years. Because of her work she received many awards and citations for her service to the community. For a number of years she worked at Rutgers University Institute of Microbiology. Then her interest in law took over. She worked for several attorneys until her marriage to Ralph in 1975 when they moved to Tucson. After they adopted their grandson, Andy, she decided to start an in-home business to take care of him. This is when she became an independent contractor for the State of Arizona as an adult developmentally disabled home provider. After retiring from her business in 1995, they moved to their home in the White Mountains. She stayed active during these years as a member of the VFW Auxiliary in Show Low, Mizpah Chapter 57 of Eastern Star, White Mountain Women’s Club, Summit Investment Club, Emblem Club, Navajo County SAV and Navajo County Search and Rescue and was an ardent supporter of the NRA. Helen attributed her longevity to her loving husband Ralph, daughter Kara and grandson Andy and the many friends she has made through the years. A special thanks to her friends at the Cardio and Pulmonary Support Group (CAPS) at NRMC. They were her lifeline to living longer. Her lung was removed after one was successfully removed from a dog. This gave the doctors the knowledge they needed to perform the procedure on Helen. It was a dog that gave her life. Helen asked to be remembered for the good times. She asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Arizona Animal Welfare League. No public services are scheduled at this time. Owens Livingston Mortuary White Mountain Chapel of Show Low handled arrangements. Those who have special memories and would like to send private condolences or sign an online guest book are invited to visit www.owenslivingstonmortuary.com.