Helen C. Pena

Helen was born in Manhattan on September 19, 1934 (although she would not admit to it and some records show her birth year as ‘36). Either way, Helen was timeless, elegant, and loving. Her adoring parents were Angelo and Mary Creitoff. Together they had a strong and beautiful family that included Luis, Henry, Lillian, and Rene, all of whom have predeceased her. Helen was number 4. She is survived by her “kid” brother, as she so affectionately called him, Louis.

On September 19, 1954, Helen married the love of her life, Theodore Pena, in Manhattan. He proposed on a rowboat in Central Park, and, as he used to tell her, they were “meant to be since the days of the Romans.” While their time together on earth was shorter than either had planned (he predeceased her on July 29, 1974), her love for him never wavered and she remained true for the rest of her natural life. It will no doubt continue in eternal rest.

Together, Helen and “her Pena,” as she lovingly called him, had Theodore Jr. (Ted) and April Helene. Both of whom were the apple of her eye and her purpose. She often called them her “everything.” Helen is survived by her grief-stricken children and her adoring grandchildren. She was blessed to have 7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Her family includes her cherished first-born Ted, his wife Sandra, and their 2 children, Jeena Marie and Jordan Helene, as well as Ted’s son, Edmund who blessed her with 4 great-grandchildren.

In addition, Helen is survived by her devoted and doting daughter April, her loving son-in-law Peter, and the 4 grandchildren who adored and showered her with daily phone calls, text messages, visits, love and affection, Christina Helene, David Anthony, Peter Rene, and Theodore Joseph.

Professionally, Helen was a bookkeeper; first working in the Garment Center where she soon became recruited to be a fit model. Once her children were born, Helen became the amazing homemaker she was so proud to be. After her husband passed and her children became independent, Helen went back to work as a bookkeeper at Synergistic Marketing, where she had a long-storied career. Not one to sit idly by, she later worked at Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany & Co, and Bloomingdales – and yes, much of her salary went right back into showering her family with beautiful gifts, as was her generous nature.

Helen took pride in being a “city girl.” Her love of Manhattan, its walkability, museums, and shopping brought her joy. She relished taking a walk that would turn into “her day” and her greatest joy was sharing that with her Christina Helene, her “Sunshine.”

Perhaps most especially, she became known as The Kitchen Lady, even to sweet Baci Boy who would beg at her feet as she’d prepared meals filled with love, flavor, and tradition – a part of her life she took pride in passing down to her family. She delighted in feeding all. She cooked to nourish, but more, to welcome and envelope you into who and what she was - A loving, giving, and generous person. She was often accused of overcooking or over-feeding, offering more and more. Yet truth be told, she was simply giving more and more of herself with every plate she presented. And make no mistake, each dish was mouthwatering and created with love to share. She was known to say, if there’s enough for one, there’s enough for two.

She will be remembered and missed by countless friends. Not surprisingly, she made a friend everywhere she went and they soon became a part of her life - not superficially, but genuinely because that is the type of person she was. She loved with all her heart and gave with all her being until her very last breath. She was of a beautiful generation, the likes of which we will likely never see again. She took pride in cooking, cleaning, ironing, and doting – yes, even to the point of worry. We would often hear her say, “Don’t mind me. I can’t help it.”

Rest easy our dear mother. You’ve set forth a beautiful example of what true sacrifice and love is. Our prayer is that we will carry on the lessons you have instilled in us and make you proud. Until we meet again.

Not a day will come that the caring, warm, and gentle person she was will leave us.

To use her words: “It’s never goodbye. It’s always I’ll see you later”

A public visitation for Helen will be held Sunday, August 11, 2024 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM and from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Frank E. Campbell - The Funeral Chapel, 1076 Madison Ave, New York, New York 10028.

A mass of Christian burial will occur Monday, August 12, 2024 at 11:00 AM at St. Ignatius Loyola Church, 980 Park Ave, NY, New York. The service will be streamed live at this link: www.youtube.com/live/p1MweKdk6Ck

An interment will follow mass at St. Raymond New Cemetery, 2600 Lafayette Ave, Bronx, New York 10465.