Helen Irene Cattaneo Kuandart, our precious mother, sadly passed away on Monday, April 15, 2024 in Fort Smith, Arkansas at the age of 95. She was born October 12, 1928 in Bonanza, Arkansas to Joe and Cleo (Holmes) Cattaneo. She graduated from Hackett High School in 1946. She was a member of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Arkoma, Oklahoma.
Helen married Alvernon “Junior” Kuandart on December 24, 1946 and they celebrated 56 years of marriage before his passing in 2002. In 1950, they moved their family to Carlsbad, New Mexico, where Junior worked for US Potash Mines. In 1969, they returned to Arkansas to make their home, close to family.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Morris Cattaneo and Joe Allen Cattaneo and one grandchild, Honesty Good. She is survived by six children, Linda (James) Wright of Pocola, OK, William (Tommy) Kuandart of Benton, AR, Pamela (Bernie) Hiatt of Arkoma, OK, Kathy Morris of Bonanza, AR, Larry (Brenda) Kuandart of Hackett, AR and Tanya McLaughlin and Derrall Taylor of Sallisaw, OK; one sister, Marilyn (Frank) Noland of Carlsbad, NM; seven grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, three great grandchildren, ten step grandchildren, twenty step great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be 2 p.m. on Friday, April 19 at McConnell Funeral Home Chapel in Greenwood with a committal service at 10 a.m. on Monday at the Fort Smith National Cemetery. Viewing will be Thursday from 1 – 7 p.m. at the funeral home, where the family will visit with friends from 5 – 7 p.m.
Pallbearers will be Richard Wright, Dennis Wright, Greg Short, Gary Lewis Short, Larry Don Kuandart and Christopher “Kip” McLaughlin. Honorary pallbearers will be Jessie McCann, Bernie Hiatt, Neal Hiatt and Austin Morales.
To share a memory or leave a message for the family, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com.
