Local woman retires from choir after 53 years
Helen Miscovich doesn’t have to think twice about her favorite hymn. “‘Heart of Jesus,” she said, stopping to sing a few lines. “But there are so many beautiful ones. ‘Immaculate Mary’ – that’s another one of my favorites. I love them all.’
The Uniontown resident knows the hymns well. Now 88, she’s been singing at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Uniontown since she joined the parish in 1949. Before that, she sang at St. Thomas Roman Catholic Church in Footedale, where she joined the Sodality Girls’ choir when she was 16.
“I just love to sing,’ said Miscovich. “I sing Polish and Latin.’
These days, however, Miscovich sings at home.
She retired from St. Joseph Choir several months ago for health reasons. But she hasn’t let go of those hymns.
“I still love to sing those songs,’ she said. “When I can’t sleep at night, those songs go through my mind.’
As much as Miscovich misses singing for her church, the church misses Miscovich who was a fixture in the choir.
“I want to commend her and thank her and wish her well,’ said the Rev. Alexander Pleban, pastor of St. Joseph. “She’s given so many years of service to St. Joseph. People like her who are so devoted keep this parish going. I am very appreciative of people like Helen. That’s what makes this parish so special. There are so many willing to serve. Helen is a wonderful soul.’
“She was very dedicated,’ said choir director Tom Kolencik. “Even when she was in poor health, she would make it. She really liked the choir and was a pleasure to have. She was a very kind person. She had a nice voice. She sang well. We miss her. She had a positive attitude all the time.’
In fact, several members of the choir visited Miscovich in her home over the holidays to celebrate her 53 years of singing for the church.
“They had a little get-together for me in December. They surprised me,’ Miscovich smiled. “I wasn’t expecting it. They brought pizza and we had a nice time. We sang songs.’
Miscovich was born in Westmoreland County, the daughter of Michael and Cecelia Lemanski. Her father was a coal miner who brought his family to Footedale in 1929.
Miscovich married her husband, the late Albert Miscovich, who was also a coal miner, in 1937.
The family moved to Uniontown in 1949. The couple had five children, including Connie Quarrick, who has a farm in North Union Township; Alberta Gasher, a homemaker who lives in Cleveland; Norbert, a retired teacher in Columbus, Ohio; Vincent, an assistant fire chief for South Union Township; and Timothy, a firefighter in Fairfax, Va. Miscovich has 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
When the Miscovich family joined St. Joseph Church, it was located on South Mount Vernon Avenue. The church later relocated to Walnut Hill Road.
Miscovich recalled her years in the choir, serving with different directors, including Andrew Haky, David Dombrowski and Kolencik, and organists Carol Krzton and Mary Ann Mazur. She spoke about singing at Mass on Sundays and holidays, and how the choir recorded an album of Christmas carols in English and Polish.
“It was a beautiful album,’ she said.
Miscovich also spoke of the pastors who have served St. Joseph over the years, the different organizations to which she has belonged as well as the people of the church. And the ethnic heritage of St. Joseph continues to be important to her.
In fact, Miscovich said, “I’m Polish and our church is Polish and I love that.’
And she still enjoys music. It has been part of her life for so many years and continues to mean so much to her.
Afterall, Miscovich noted proudly, referring to a plaque that was a gift to members of the choir from the late Rev. Joseph Tamilowski, “He who sings prays twice.’