DRAUGAS Lithuanian World Wide News
Obituary for Helen Pakalnis
Helen (Helė) Pakalniš(kis), died peacefully on September 12, 2019, at her home 403 E. South St., West Union, OH 45693, USA at 10:50 AM surrounded by her exceptional and loving caregivers from Hospice of Hope, Maysville, KY and her daughter, Ann Pakalnis-Schaffer, MD, and grandson Alex Pakalnis. Born April 1, 1922, in Vilnius, Lithuania, Helen was a World War II refugee who emigrated to the USA where she met her husband of 57 years, Mark (Mečis) Pakalnis (previously Pakalniškis), DVM, in Detroit, MI. The blissful newlyweds moved to Birmingham, AL where their first child Ann was born on Feb. 5, 1951. Together they built a thriving and respected veterinary medicine clinic and Helen was exceptionally proud of earning her certification as an Ohio Veterinary Assistant. Regina, their second daughter was born June 13, 1955. Both daughters excelled academically and professionally. Both received their medical degrees from the University of Toledo College of Medicine. Ann is a prominent and highly respected Pediatric Neurologist serving on the faculty of the Ohio State University College of Medicine/Wexner Medical Center/Nationwide Children’s Hospital (ranked as one of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals by US News & World Report) in Columbus, OH. Regina is a well known and highly trained anesthesiologist practicing in Chatham, NJ. Helen’s step-daughter Marya Danguolė (Pakalnis) Skadas, MD, Ph.D (Biochemistry). received her degrees from the prestigious University of Vilnius in Vilnius, Lithuania, one of the oldest universities in the world, established in 1579.
Helen is survived by her loving daughters: Ann Pakalnis, MD; (wed to Grier Schaffer, Esq.) of Dublin, OH and Regina Pakalnis MD of Chatham, NJ; step-daughter Marya Danguolė Skadas, of Romeoville, Il; grandchildren Robin Schaffer Romero (wed to Victor Romero originally of Bogota, Columbia, SA) currently in Chatham, NJ; Alex Schaffer, Dublin, OH; Caroline Schaffer, Charleston, SC, and Keira Redmond, of Chatham, NJ; two step grand-children Sarunas Skadas and Skizmantė Skadas, both of Chicago, Il; three nephews Algis Vladas Barauskas, DDS, Bloomfield Hills, MI.(Dentistry practice: Fisher Bldg, Detroit, MI) Vytautas Alfonsas Pakalnis, MD, Houston, TX, and Vytautas (Victor) Pakalnis, Ph.D (Mining) of Sudbury, Ont. Canada.
A memorial service will be held at noon on Oct. 26, 2019 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 612 E. Mulberry St., West Union, OH. 45693. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Humane Society of Adams County, Inc. in honor of Helen Pakalnis.
Helen’s ashes will be buried alongside her husband in the family plot in Pabaiskas, Ukmergė district of Lithuania, where Helen’s father-in-law Kazys Pakalniškis raised his sons: Antanas Alfonsas Pakalnis, MD, Mark Pakalnis, DVM, Vytautas Pakalnis, B. Eng. (Mining), and daughter, Valė (Pakalnis) Barauskas, DDS (wed to Vladas Barauskas).