Helen Kathleen Sarlo

She was the daughter of Kathleen Mary Ritter and Walter Carl Ritter. For much of her childhood, Helen was raised alongside her sister Lois and brother Bud by her grandmother, an experience that helped shape her strength, resilience, and values throughout her life.

Helen later moved to Port Charlotte, Florida, where she attended Charlotte High School and proudly played in the band as a member of the Silver Tarpons. After graduating, she relocated to Fort Myers Beach, where she worked at the Sextant Restaurant, owned by the Stefanich family, and began building the life she would cherish so deeply.

In 1956, Helen married Arnold L. Sarlo. Together they shared a loving marriage and raised four children.

Helen was actively involved in her community and church. She was a member of the Sable Palm Garden Club, the St. Cecilia Women’s Guild, and sang in the St. Cecilia Adult Choir for an extraordinary 45 years, sharing her love of music and faith with all who worshiped alongside her.

She had a lifelong love of travel and treasured experiences abroad, especially visiting Amman, Jordan, and spending time in Upper Michigan, places that held special meaning and fond memories.

Helen’s happiest times and most cherished memories were the holidays she hosted year after year. Each holiday was marked by its own special menu, with food lovingly prepared together. Family favorites included Nana’s fried chicken, mashed potatoes, meatballs, Easter meat pie, and Christmas cookies, creating gatherings filled with laughter, tradition, and lasting memories.

Helen is survived by her sons, Tony (Eloise) Sarlo and Joe (Sue) Sarlo, and her daughters, Laura Sarlo Jackson and LaDonna Sarlo Barnard; along with ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Kathleen Mary and Walter Carl Ritter; her husband, Arnold L. Sarlo; her siblings, Bud Ritter, Lois Ritter, and Ruth Hart; her son-in-law, Larry Jackson; and her granddaughter, Lauren Jackson.

Helen Kathleen Sarlo will be remembered for her generosity, faith, love of music, and the warmth she brought to those around her. Her legacy lives on through the many lives she touched, the traditions she so carefully created, and the meals that brought her family together.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St Cecilia Catholic Community, located at 5632 Sunrise Dr, Fort Myers, FL, 33919, United States. The service is scheduled for December 19, 2025, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.