Halina Colter

  Halina (nee Brasowski) Colter of Fairless Hills, PA, age 93, sadly passed away on Tuesday, December 27, 2022.

  Born in Diatlowitsche, Poland, Halina was the youngest of three siblings, Tamara Poessl and Igor Brasowski.  Her parents, Very Rev. Priest Simeon Brasowsky and mother, Matushka Helena Brasowsky, along with their three children spent the years during WWII in Germany, finding safe-haven within the system of Russian Orthodox churches, hiding from the perils of war.  Mom spoke often, even up to her final days, of the hardships she and her family endured at such a young age. They eventually settled in Ingolstadt, Germany after the war, where her father worshipped as priest of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church.
  Mom admired and talked of her father often who was a very important man in her eyes. He was the influence of one of Mom’s favorite pastimes…singing. He had Halina sing in the church choir, eventually enlisting her to choir director.  From then on Mom didn’t stop singing. Mom had a strong and distinct, yet humble soprano voice with which she shared in the church choir until
recent years when she could no longer physically attend church.  However, utilizing her family room television, Mom could still sing along with the service as if she was still at church; it brought her great joy.  One of Mom’s favorite memories that she relived often was that of a performance she and another woman gave on stage in Brooklyn sometime in the 1960s; they
beautifully sang harmony together in Russian.
 While still living in Germany, Halina met and married her first husband, Willy Braeckman.  A short time later they immigrated to the United States (Staten Island, NY) for a better life and to be closer to her siblings who had already moved abroad.  New York is where Halina and Willy “Papa” had 3 children, Sonia, Irene and Danny.  Sadly, Willy passed away only a few months after the birth of his son, Danny.  Halina then moved to be closer to her sister, Tamara in Philadelphia.  After 8 years of being a single mother, Halina met and married her second husband, Charles Colter “Dad” who relocated the family to Fairless Hills, PA where they spent almost 35 years together until his death in 2012.
  Mom had many hobbies and talents.  She was multilingual speaking; Russian, German, Polish, English and French. Including her love of singing, mom also enjoyed dancing, playing guitar, exercising, cooking, baking and was an avid gardener.  She was skilled as a seamstress, creating her daughters' clothing as children, and often repairing/altering clothes for family and neighbors.  Mom’s most enduring pastime was without a doubt, her crocheting.  She spent countless hours crocheting blankets, scarves and doilies while watching her favorite Channel 6 (ABC) or Hallmark movies!
  Halina is survived by: son, Daniel Braeckman; daughters, Sonia Bachik (Gary), Irene Brown (Brian), Suzanne Soulen (Hank, predeceased), Linda Bender (predeceased); grandchildren, Larissa, Michael (Jenn), Alexander (Saeri), Halina (Jon), Kyra, Sophia (Jaden), Natasha, Nicholas, Alyssa (Devon), Keith, Colleen, Deanna (Josh), and Jennifer (Matt); great-grandchild, Gabriel; and many nieces and nephews.
We love you Mom and will miss you!
  Relatives and friends are invited for Halina’s Viewing, on Wednesday evening, January 4, 2023 at 6 PM at St. Stephen's Orthodox Cathedral with Requiem Services at 7 PM.  The family will have a private burial at the cemetery.  

  In lieu of flowers, contributions in Halina’s memory to St. Stephen Orthodox Cathedral Beautification Fund.

 

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