Helen Confrey Anastasio

Helen Walsh Confrey Anastasio Heart of Our Home June 9, 1929-September 3, 2020 https://youtu.be/nOmu2aspVJU Our beloved mother, the heart of our home, Helen Walsh Confrey Anastasio, 91, died Thursday, September 3, 2020 in Glendale, AZ. She was born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut and graduated in 1947 from Commercial High School. She played on the softball and track teams during her junior high school years and excelled in the “broad jump”. After graduation she worked for New England Telephone Company which later became AT&T. In 1949, she married Michael Joseph Anastasio and moved to Richmond while Mike completed his degree from the University of Richmond. After graduation, the family moved to Hampton, Virginia where Mike started his teaching and coaching career at Hampton High School. Always working together as a united team, Helen and Mike raised three children, instilling gifts of unconditional love, commitment to a task, sportsmanship, fun, honor and the love for God. Later, Helen worked in Accounting at NASA and retired after 26 years of employment. She made many friends and kept in contact with them often. She had various hobbies such as reading, crafting, knitting, playing Bridge, cooking and baking, especially her chocolate chip Toll House cookies. As for her children, she made growing up fun from the pink and green pancakes for Valentine’s and St. Patrick’s Day to creating poems to search for their Christmas presents. She brought sunshine wherever she went and loved hosting get-togethers with family and friends including her own Olympics at the family’s cottage in Gloucester, VA. Helen was an active member of the Ladies of St. Rose of Lima and Korean Martyrs Catholic Church. She was Head Usher and Eucharistic Minister. She volunteered and brought communion to patients at the St. Frances Convalescent Home and Mary Immaculate Hospital. She loved her children, led a Girls Scout Troop and participated in their school activities and held office in their PTA. She was a PEO, Red Hat’s, Happy Wanderer’s and Arthritis Club member. She was her son’s and daughters’ biggest cheerleader, always encouraging them to do their best whether it was in school or playing sports. After 62 years, Helen and Mike retired to Sun City West, AZ in 2013 where she was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Helen was so full of compassion, from the many animals she rescued and loved; to her children and family she cared for. She was an exceptional role model. She never complained even with the many health issues she endured. Her entire life was lived by an example of love and devotion to God, family, friends and neighbors. As Helen’s health declined, she always remained humorous and kept her positive attitude. She will be remembered for many things but her generosity, smile and laughter warmed one’s heart and always made you feel welcomed. Helen was a kind, selfless woman, a supportive, dedicated and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She will be remembered for her encouraging words when everything seemed hopeless she found hope; when things were falling all around from the pressures of life, she would bring life back into perspective and tell you to put your faith in God and He would show you the way. She was an inspiration to many and held steadfast to her faith. She is preceded in death by her husband, Michael Joseph Anastasio of 70 years; brother, Francis (Frankie) Confrey; sister, Mary Margaret Confrey Sauro; mother, Mary Josephine Confrey and father, Thomas Andrew Confrey. Helen is survived by daughters, Mary Jo Anastasio of Yorktown, VA; Helyn (Lyn) Walsh Anastasio of San Diego, California and a son, Michael Joseph Anastasio, Jr. of Sun City West, AZ; nieces, nephews, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren in VA, CO, AZ, KY and SC. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Prince of Peace Catholic Church located in Sun City West, AZ on September 19th at 10:00 a.m. She will be laid to rest on September 26 at 3:00 p.m. in the Mausoleum Chapel at Parklawn Memorial Park, Hampton, VA. (www.Parklawn-Woodfh.com) In place of flowers, contributions may be made to the Lung or Multiple Sclerosis Association. Arrangements by Camino Del Sol Funeral Chapel in Sun City West, AZ and Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home in Hampton, VA.