in New York City to Frank and Mary Melchionno, the youngest of five children. She was predeceased
by her sisters Anne (Frank) and Teresa (Charles), baby sister Rose, who died at 3 years
of age, and her brother Frank, who died in WW II. She was a devoted Aunt to five nieces and
three nephews, children of her sisters, along with grandnieces and grandnephews, cousins in
New York, Tennessee and Ohio, and many good friends. She will be greatly missed.
Helen was a resident of Providence for over sixty years, joining the Order of the Franciscan
Missionaries of Mary in in 1958. After leaving the Order in 1972, she worked for Carter Day
Nursery, then the State Department of Health and finally the State Department of Children,
Youth & Families until her retirement. She had a devotion to Jesus and the Blessed Mother and
was a daily communicant, and often a lector, on Sundays at Holy Family Parish Church in
Pawtucket.
The important things to Helen were her faith, family and friends. She also considered co-workers
and friends her family. She was compassionate, empathetic, kind and generous with her time and
possessions. She never forgot family or friends’ birthdays or special occasions and wrote cards
with words of appreciation and assurance of her love and prayers. She cherished any and all
opportunities to see members of her large Italian family. She had a passion for her Italian
heritage and culture and appreciated the sacrifices made by her parents to provide for their
family during the depression. Her sisters would keep her informed about events and changes to
the old neighborhood in New York City, "Little Italy". As a book lover and avid reader, she was
interested in all topics and often shared articles and information with others. Having learned
stenography in school, she used this skill throughout her life for notes and lists, into this year.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at 10:00 AM in Holy Family Church, 195 Walcott
Street, Pawtucket, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11:00 AM. Burial will be in New York.
In lieu of flowers, consider an act of charity towards someone or donate in her memory to the
Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, Development Office, 399 Fruit Hill Ave., North Providence,
R.I. 02911.
For those who cannot attend, the Mass will be livestreamed on the Pontarelli-Marino Funeral Home Facebook page at 10:00 AM.
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