Helga Fragale

Born: December 19,1936 in Landsberg, Germany

Died: June 26,2025 in Gilbert , Arizona

Helga Fragale (Pittrich) December 19,1936 - June 26, 2025 passed away at Mercy Gilbert Hospital surrounded with love by her children, and grandchildren. Helga suffered a brief battle with respiratory issues and the lasting effects from a severe stroke that occurred in 2017 that left her partially paralyzed with expressive aphasia. Helga showed strength, kindness, love and much gratitude for the full life she had lived until her last breath.

Born on December 19, 1936 in Landsberg, Germany at the beginning of WWII, Helga's childhood was filled with bombings and being scared where she often clung to her mother which gave her the strength to take on the many challenges that life would later throw at her. She worked as Camp Transportation director when she was 20 where she would meet John Fragale who was a sergeant in the USAF. Helga and John would move to America a year later and over the next seven years would move to several bases and have three children, Debbie, John and Mark. In 1964 John, Helga and the three kids moved to Otis A.F.B on Cape Cod where they would spend the last eight years of John's service career before retiring to Falmouth, Mass. The Fragales remained in Falmouth until 1987 at which time they decided to move to "sunny" Arizona to be closer to their two sons who had moved several years earlier. John and Helga enjoyed a wonderful retirement in Sun Lakes, Arizona where they met many friends and enjoyed time with children and grandchildren. Helga suffered a severe stroke in 2017 which left her right side paralyzed with expressive aphasia. Through all of the challenges thrown at her, Helga remained strong, loving and caring, always participating in many activities and always willing to have a glass of wine with friends and family. A tribute to what a tough person she was.

Professionally Helga was an accountant where in 1984 she worked her way up to becoming the Town Accountant in Falmouth. Helga was a perfectionist in everything. She always had to make sure to balance to the penny.

More than anything, Helga was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend to many. She loved being with her family and always exemplified toughness and courage to overcome all the challenges that were thrown at her. She is survived by her children, Debbie Warburton of Mesa, Az, John Fragale and Mylea Fragale (spouse) of Chandler, Az, Mark Fragale of Palmdale, Ca; her grandchildren Chris Fragale, Matt and Lauren Gilchrist, Stephanie Fragale, Kyle and Felicia Mastel, Luke Fragale, Taylor Fragale, Chris Crawford, Kyle and Justine Simpson, Kyrstin Noriega; great grandchildren Matthew Gilchrist, Olivia Gilchrist, Danielle Fragale, Talon Simpson, Cole Simpson and Rhett Simpson.

She is preceded in death by her parents Johann and Magda Pittrich, her husband John Fragale, sister Amamarie Boenig, grandson Jonathan Warburton and son in law James Warburton.

A celebration of Life will be held in the coming weeks to celebrate Helga's legacy of love, strength and courage. In lieu of flowers, memorial contribution may be sent in Helga’s memory to the American Stroke Association. www.stroke.org

A Celebration of Life will be held Monday, July 21,2025 at 10:30 AM: Enclave at Gilbert 4929 S. Val Vista Dr Gilbert, Az 85289.