Helen V. Pusateri, 89, of Clarendon, PA, died Sunday, December 13, 2015 at Warren General Hospital.
Born on August 8, 1926 in Sheffield, PA, Helen was the daughter of the late Michael and Anna Laskody Trubic. On October 15, 1946 in Sheffield, PA she married Samuel F. Pusateri, who died on January 19, 1998.
Helen was a graduate of Sheffield High School, Class of 1944. She was formerly employed with the Warren Times Observer for 23 years. She was a member of St. Anthony of Padua R. C. Church in Sheffield and a former member of St. Clara’s R. C. Church. She would assist at daily Mass, was a former CCD teacher and was a member of the Legion of Mary. Helen was a charter life member of the Clarendon V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary where she was treasurer for 50+ years and past president and secretary. She was also a member of the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club and the Sheffield Senior Center.
Helen is survived by 2 children – Darrell Pusateri and his wife, Carol, of Warren, PA, and Darleen Souder of Laurel, MD, 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband, Helen was preceded in death by 1 son, Dana Pusateri and his wife, Ellie, and 1 son-in-law, Wayne Souder.
Friends may call from 2-4pm and 6-8pm on Wednesday, December 16, 2015, at the Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home, Inc., 304 East Street, Warren, PA., where a vigil service will be held at 7:45pm. Members of the Clarendon V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary will present their service at 5:45pm Wednesday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday at St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church, Sheffield, PA, with Fr. John R. Neff, Pastor, officiating. Interment will be in St. Joseph R. C. Cemetery, Warren, PA. Those wishing to place a memorial may do so through St. Anthony of Padua R. C. Church, P. O. Box 518, Sheffield, PA, 16347, or to a charity of one’s choice. E-mail condolences may be sent by visiting www.lewisfuneralhomeinc.com
I’ll always remember the crew at the Times Observer when I first started working there as the new kid from Pittsburgh so many years ago … Allie, Denny, Sparky, Mike, Becky, Dave, Tom, Paul, Emmy, Rose, Gary, Jude, Charlie, I could go on and on. They all made me feel like I was part of the “team” and Helen was a big part of that, making sure that all the details were taken care of on the business side and always with great competence, a smile and a joke. I don’t think I ever had a conversation with Helen that didn’t end with a laugh. Eventually, we both moved on but I ran into Helen from time and time and she always seemed glad to see me and I know I was glad to see her because I knew we’d have a good conversation and share a laugh. She was very special lady.
We are so sorry to hear of Helen’s passing.
What a wonderful, friendly and caring person she was. When we moved in next door to Helen 2 years ago she sent us a fruit basket as a “Welcome to the Neighborhood” gift. We will miss seeing her sitting outside enjoying a nice sunny day . . . always with a friend as she had many and they visited her regularly.
Our thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to her family. She will be greatly missed!
Bo & Barb Anderson
As a young Clarendon boy I well remember the Pusateri family – each and every one of them. Helen was always nice to us young folks and her smile was proof. Both Helen and Sam always said hello when we’d meet them on the street – not out of necessity but just how they were. They weren’t the kind of people a kid would cross the street to avoid but, rather, the kind you’d keep walking straight on just to say hello. Their children, each and every one of them, were just as kind which is surely a reflection of them. I’ll not soon forget those Clarendon days, nor Helen and Sam. They were one of the bright spots a kid could always count on. Her children should know that Helen will always live on, in the hearts and minds of all those Clarendon kids, like me, who knew her “back when”.
Helen was a wonderful person who I greatly admired. So many times our discussions revolved around our Catholic faith, a faith that she lived so well. May you rest in peace Helen and may your soul and all the souls of the faithful departed through the Mercy of God rest in peace Amen.
Rich Schroeck, Erie.
I took life — and myself — far too seriously in my first years at the Times Observer. Helen never said that my approach was wrong. She simply showed me, by her example, that the problems would get taken care of, one way or another, so we might as well stay cheerful and work cooperatively instead of getting mad at each other or at the problem. She helped to make me into a better person, and her rich laughter brightened many an otherwise dreary day. She lived her faith.
Helen was a life long neighbor of my family, Mel and Maryalice Moylan. We shared great back yard parties over those many years, the Pusateri’s , Thompson’s, Gilfert”s & Moylan’s, some of these party stories we still bring up in the GOOD OLD DAYS conversations. We actually shared a phone line with Pusateri’s MANY years ago, some folks will remember the old phone operators and old party phone lines, before Cell phones if you imagine. Everyone knew what everyone was doing, we kids couldn’t get away with much! All the parents were members of the VFW so you can guess that sometimes adult beverages were consumed. I believe that BV was Helen’s favorite. When Kris and I visit Clarendon PA we always made a point to stop and, BANG on Helen’s back door, and of course, shared an old story along with a drink or two. Good Memory’s
We should all celebrate Helen’s long life! Cheers!
Greg and Kris Moylan Delray Beach FL.