The youngest daughter of John Murcko and Maria Szova was Helena, born 18 August 1877, Hajtovka, Slovakia.
Helena, like so many of her family and friends, also emigrated to the United States, settling in Passaic, Passaic, New Jersey. I still find it quite amazing that, unlike earlier generations of immigrants, young girls made the trip across the Atlantic often without male companions. From Udol and Hajtovka, this meant getting to Hamburg, Germany (walking!!!) and then boarding steerage on the ship for the bumpy ride across the ocean to New York. From there, they had to travel another 15 miles by road to Passaic.
Also like her family and friends, Helena married in Passaic, probably at St. Michael’s church. She married Stephen Pristas, c1901. He was born 16 September 1877 in Matysova, Slovakia, a town not far from Hajtovka.
Whether they knew each other in Europe is not known, but it is certainly possible that the Murcko and Pristas families were acquainted with each other in the old country.
Helena also followed the habit of changing her name to Julia. Why this was done, almost 100% across the board, is not known, but for whatever reason, Helenas became Julias in New Jersey.
Julia (Murcko) Pristas died on 20 January 1952, East Paterson, Passaic, New Jersey. Stephen survived his wife by many years, passing away on 13 February 1971, Saddle Brook, Bergen, New Jersey.
Stephen and Julia (Murcko) Pristas were the parents of four children:
- Mary (aka Marie), born 4 September 1902, Passaic, Passaic, New Jersey; died 9 September 1994, New Jersey; married George Mereness, 1937, New Jersey. He was born 21 June 1906; died 13 December 2002, Edison, Middlesex, New Jersey. they had no children.
- John (Jack), born 7 May 1906, Passaic, Passaic, New Jersey, died 8 April 2001, New Jersey; married Catherine (MNU), c1930. They had two children, a son and a daughter.
- Stephen, born 7 December 1909, Garfield, Bergen, New Jersey; died August 1969, New Jersey; married Edith A. Pree, 1928, New Jersey. She was born 1910, New Jersey; died 1971, West Milford, Passaic, New Jersey. They were parents of three daughters and one son. Two of the daughters, Julane and Virginia, have passed away.
- Helen, born 26 June 1914, New Jersey; died 12 November 2007, New Jersey; married Joseph Anthony Mikulik, 1935, New Jersey. He was born 15 August 1912, Garfield, Bergen, New Jersey; died 12 December 1975, Paterson, Passaic, New Jersey. They were the parents of three children.
This completes the life stories of the descendants of John Murcko and Maria Szova of Hajtovka, Slovakia. They have a number of living descendants living in America.