Helen M. Sorokes, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother

OLEAN —  Helen M. Sorokes, formerly of 606 W. Greene St., Olean, passed away Thursday (Sept. 4, 2025) at the Pines Healthcare and Rehabilitative Center in Olean.

Born Aug. 21, 1930, in Olean, she was a daughter of John and Margaret Smith Chokrach.

Helen was a lifelong resident of Olean. She graduated at age 16 from Olean High School and began her working career as a secretary to the principal at the high school. From there, she moved on to Clark Brothers, where she worked in the accounting department for several years.

On Dec. 27, 1950, at St. John’s Church in Olean, she married the love of her life, William Sorokes, with whom she enjoyed a life journey of 68 years, until his passing on April 12, 2019.

They lived briefly in southern California while Bill completed his service in the U.S. Navy, and then returned to Olean to begin building a life together and raising a family.

Helen was the consummate optimist and devoted her life to nurturing her extended family. She supported her children’s interests and pursuits throughout their formative years at their schools and in their extracurricular activities, especially scouting and music programs, for which she volunteered regularly.

In the late 1960s, she and Bill made their first family trip to the beaches of Nags Head, N.C., a place they came to dearly love. They started a tradition of annual visits every summer, which continued for 50 years, a tradition that many of their children and grandchildren have carried forward.

Her home was one of warmth and comfort to any visitor, and she did anything she could for anyone who needed help. Her children’s friends and her neighbors were cheerfully welcomed in her home, and there was always room at the dinner table for one more guest. Every holiday was a time for celebration, large family gatherings and feasts.

She enjoyed being creative and loved to write, especially as she was raising her family. Her humorous anecdotes, poems, and household tips were often published in national magazines. She placed inspirational phrases and Bible verses around her home as a constant reminder of God’s abundant grace.

She also loved to shop and was always looking for a bargain that could be passed on to a family member, person in need or charitable cause.

Helen was a compassionate caregiver and supportive listener to her children, grandchildren, friends and neighbors, and she quietly, respectfully found ways to be charitable, despite never accumulating wealth of her own.

She was a devoted and loving partner to her husband, Bill, for nearly 70 years and was his personal caregiver through many years of his progressive and debilitating illness.

Through all of life’s challenges, she would never give up hope and saw the good in everyone she met. She was constantly praying for positive outcomes for her family, friends and community. She encouraged everyone she knew to continue their educations, expect good things to happen, never give up hope, and trust in God at all times.

Her love for and pride in her children and grandchildren was unmatched, and she was also very proud of her hometown and the Olean community. Even in her last days, she loved to talk about Olean news, progress and politics.

She and Bill were avid fans of the St. Bonaventure basketball teams and had season tickets for many years. She was also a faithful follower of the Buffalo Bills and was looking forward to the upcoming season.

Helen was a faithful and active member of St. Mary of the Angels Parish and never missed weekly mass, parish events and fundraisers. Over the years, she baked thousands of cookies for parish and community dinners.

Above all else, Helen thrived on being a mother figure to anyone who could benefit from her gestures of loving kindness, encouragement, and motherly advice.

Her entire family will miss her terribly, and all are grateful for her long life and the many lessons and blessings she instilled in them. They are also grateful to her many caregivers, especially at the Pines Healthcare and Rehabilitative Center in Olean — a place where she made many friends. She came to consider it her home for the past three years, with her typical optimism and appreciation.

She is survived by her six children, James (Penny) Sorokes, William (Cindy) Sorokes, Larry (Susan) Sorokes, Joseph “Jay” (Ann) Sorokes and Kathleen (Michael) Martel, all of Olean, and Diana (Craig) Maguire of Allegany; 16 grandchildren, Megan (Jason) Sneed, Daniel (Ariane) Sorokes, Kelli (Taylor) Bashford, William (Emily K.) Sorokes, Christopher Sorokes, Jennifer (Evan) Hopkins, Adam (Maurya) Sorokes, Emily Sorokes, Olivia (Blaine) Doherty, Clare (Jacob) Middaugh, Matthew Sorokes, Nicholas (Michelle Vick) Martel, Benjamin Martel, Elisamaria (Carter Schneider) Martel, Travis Maguire and Andrew Maguire; 11 great-grandchildren, Owen Heiler, Alexander Sorokes, Henry Sorokes, Monica Sorokes, Christian Hopkins, Katelyn Hopkins, Caleb Hopkins, Devere Sorokes, Quinn Sorokes, Oscar Doherty and Olive Doherty; her sister, Margaret Chokrach; brother, Richard (Joann) Chokrach; and several nieces and nephews, including her God-daughter, Donna Chokrach Woodruff, John Chokrach and Michael Chokrach.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her brother, John Chokrach in 1966; and sister-in-law, Jean Lang Chokrach in 2005.

Friends may call from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 7, 2025) at the Guenther Funeral Home, 1303 E. State St., Olean. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Monday (Sept. 8, 2025) at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels in Olean. Burial will follow at St. Bonaventure Cemetery.

Memorials, if desired, may be made to the William and Helen Sorokes Family Fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, 301 N. Union St., Olean, NY 14760, or online at cattfoundation.org.

Online condolences can be expressed at www.guentherfh.com.