Daughter of
Petro "Peter" and Pelagie "Pauline" (Kragnikovec) Pigón. Born 3 Jun 1887 in the village of Suckyj [R]/Szuhapatak [H], Uzh [R]/Ung [H] County,
Subcarpathian Rus', Austria-Hungary; and died 23 Jun 1964 in Ferrell, Mercer County Pennsylvania. She
married Stefan "Stephen" Branzovich 14 May 1903 in the village of Suckyj, and they had eleven children. Helen
is buried in St John's Orthodox Cemetery & Chapel, Sharon, Mercer County
Pennsylvania.
Helena first came to the United States arriving
in New York City on 2 Sep 1906 aboard the SS Blucher departing from Hamburg, Germany. The ship's passanger
list has her listed under the name of Olena Pigan. Her final destination was listed
as Irwin, (Westmoreland County) Pennsylvania; where she was to meet with her husband Stefan. Her nationality was
listed as Hungarian and her race as Ruthenian. The village of Suchyj [R]/Szuhapatak [H] was listed as her last residence. She was listed as having $4.00
in her possession.
Apparently Helena made a trip back
to Europe, date unknown. She returned to the United States arriving in New York City on 22 Jul 1910 aboard the
SS Atlanta departing from Triest, Austria-Hungary. The ship's passanger list has her listed under the name
of Olena Brenzowicz. She is listed as joining her husband in Greensburg, Westmoreland
County Pennsylvania. Her county of birth is listed as Hungary, and city as Lucky Potok (very poor spelling
of Szuhapatak). She is listed as having $36.00 in her possession. She answered "no" to the passanger list
entry "Whether ever before in the United States; and if so, when and where?" This is interesting since she had been
in the United States from Sep 1906 until she made the return trip back to Europe. This trip also coinsides with her
husband's trip to Europe and back. However, he returned on 7 Mar 1910 arriving in Baltimore, Maryland.
Helena and her family were living in Derry Township,
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania at the time of the 1920 census and moved to Mercer County, Pennsylvania in October
1929. Her and her family were living in the Borough of Farrell at the time of the 1930 census. She was
a member of St John's Orthodox Greek Catholic Church, Sharon, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. She was also a member
of the Greek Catholic union Lodge 979. Over time, the spelling of Helena's maiden name changed. According
to Helena's marriage certificate, it was spelled "Pigón". On the 1906 passanger list it was spelled "Pigan"
and her obituary had it spelled "Pagan".
Children of Helena (Pigan) and Stefan Branzovich and their descendants
can be found by linking to the page of Stefan "Stephen" Branzovich.
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