Helene S. Cornell Catalano

CATALANO - Helene S. (nee Cornell)

May 20, 2019. Beloved wife of Robert J. Catalano; loving mother of Anna Rauvenpoor, Dr. Sara L. (Padraig) Connolly, Robert Jr. and Matthew (Hitomi) Catalano; cherished grandmother of Grace J. Catalano, Abigail and Naava Rauvenpoor, Brenna and Rian Connolly and Kokoro Catalano; dear sister of Donna (Guy) Williamson and the late Carolyn Bishop and Dr. Thomas (Susan) Cornell.

The family will be present to receive friends Tuesday, May 28th and Wednesday, May 29th from 4-8 PM at BEACH-TUYN FUNERAL HOME, INC., 5541 Main Street (at Cayuga Rd.), Williamsville. Friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service Thursday morning, May 30th at 11o’clock in St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, 1475 Orchard Park Rd, West Seneca, 14224. Please assemble at church. Flowers gratefully declined. Memorials may be made to Hospice Foundation of WNY or to Salvation Army Buffalo Citadel Corps, 960 Main St., Buffalo, NY 14202.

Helene Sue Catalano, age 68, passed away peacefully on May 20th, 2019 at the Hospice Mitchell Campus, two short months after a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Helene devoted her life to nonprofit service- the longest of which was to her husband and four children. She served at the Salvation Army Buffalo Citadel Corps as administrative assistant to a number of corps officers; after retirement, she again served at the Salvation Army as a project specialist/SNAP worker. Helene was also involved with the Ladies Home League as a member and leader, and was an active member of the IAAP as the Membership Committee Chair

The majority of her professional career was spent in service to Hospice Buffalo where she served as Executive Assistant CAP-OM to four CEOs over her 25 year career. She was active in many Hospice fundraisers and is remembered by many still serving Hospice as a helpful, kind, and compassionate woman. In 1998The Buffalo chapter of Professional Secretaries International, the Association for Office Professionals, named Helene Secretary of the Year.