Helen M. DeMarco

Helen DeMarco, 70, loving wife and mother, died comfortably at Connecticut Hospice in Branford on April 12.

Most of her life was spent in Wayne, N.J., with her family, with several years in the late 1990s living in Jackson, N.J.

Most recently she lived in Newtown with her husband of 50 years and their daughter’s family, which included son-in-law Lee Ramsdell, Jr, and his two daughters, Courtney and Erin.

She was born on September 23, 1932, in Shenandoah, Penn., where she was a cheerleader and active bowler. She was a coal miner’s daughter of Polish and Russian immigrants and spoke only Polish until her First Communion.

Sal DeMarco, Sr, her husband, of Garfield, N.J., whom she married on June 15, 1952, survives her. She is also survived by daughter, Dr Linda DeMarco of Newtown; sons, Sal DeMarco, Jr, of Concord, Mass., and Darren DeMarco of Weston, Fla. She was also a devout grandmother to Sal, Jr, and wife Kathy’s daughters, Lauren DeMarco, 13, and Sonja DeMarco, 11.

Helen was very active with her children’s activities and sports and was a Girl Scout leader, volunteer for the high school band, PTA, and one of the pioneer soccer moms. She was a nutritionist and baker for the school system and several nursing homes. She loved to cook, bake, and eat. Later on, she enjoyed playing cards with her friends and family.

Her positive attitude, quick-witted personality, and her cynical but humorous life views will be sorely missed by all who knew her. Her lifelong friend, Ruth Jansen of Florida, will also miss her dearly.

Contributions in her name may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care, 237 East Aurora Street, Waterbury, CT 06708, or Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Road, Branford, CT 06405, or to the hospice of your choice. Services were private.

The Newtown Bee        April 18, 2003