Helen R. Carannante

Helen Raffaella Carannante, 89, passed away peacefully on Wednesday April 14, 2015, at her home at Atria Meridian in Lantana, Florida. In her later years she endured the effects of a stroke and Parkinson’s disease.

Helen was born in Brooklyn, New York, on July 30, 1925, the daughter of Italian immigrants Francesco and Raffaella DiRienzo. Her mother died when Helen was 9 years old. She was the sixth of six children, Rose, Pasquale (Pat), Ferdinando (Fred), Jennie (Billie) and Michael, all of whom have passed on.

She is now reunited with the one true love of her life, Umberto “Al” Carannante, whom she married in 1945 in Brooklyn and to whom she remained happily married until his death in 1996. They were great dancers.

They moved from New Jersey to Florida in the early 1970s and were longtime residents of the Pines of Delray, Delray Beach.

Helen was a lifelong devout Catholic and active parishioner of St. Vincent Ferrer and Emmanuel Churches in Delray Beach and Holy Spirit in Lantana. She dedicated her passion and love to her faith and volunteered regularly for Catholic Charities and Birthline, including attending and organizing countless prayer rallies for pro-life, her great cause. She was a youthful, fun-loving, feisty and attractive woman, always well-dressed and thoughtful about her appearance.

She had many friends, but the great love of her life was her extended family, mostly in the New York area, and her immediate family in South Florida, all of whom will miss her dearly, especially her devoted daughter, Mary (Jerry), who was her angel in her last years and months; son, Gregory (Debra); grandchildren Christian, Nicole, Pierre, Dax, Danielle, Great Grandson, Christian James and numerous nephews and nieces.

Our family offers special thanks to Helen’s Atria Meridian family; her special Hospice family and the many Nurses who helped keep her peaceful and comfortable in her journey home.

Friends may be received from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Sunday, April 19, 2015 at Quattlebaum Funeral, Cremation and Event Center at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 6411 Parker Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33405. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Monday, April 20, 2015 at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, 500 Spencer Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33409 followed by internment at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery, Royal Palm Beach, FL.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Hospice of Palm Beach County, 5300 East Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33407 or Birthline Lifeline Pregnancy Care Center, 212 East Boynton Beach Blvd. Boynton Beach, FL 33435 in memory of Helen Carannante.