Helen Catherine Pullano was born December 18, 1924 in Hoboken, NJ to Mario and Rose (DeFazio) Manfre. She passed away peacefully on September 11, 2021, while under Hospice in-home care in Tampa, Florida. Though dimmed late in life by her battle with dementia, hers was a light so bright that it shown through until the very end.
Helen was deeply religious and drew on her Catholic faith for strength and courage throughout her life. She was selfless and kind and always willing to help others in need.
As a young woman she’d found employment at Yardley of London, a Union City factory perched atop the Palisades, overlooking Hoboken. She lived at home while supporting herself and took to the stage at the USO during WWII, to support the troops. She was, wherever she went and whomever she was with, the sparkle in the wine.
After the war, she met and married Nicholas Guzzo. They had two sons; Albert and Gary. When their marriage ended, Helen found herself a single parent living with her two young sons in the rent controlled projects on fourth street in Union City; working as a waitress at Tedesco’s Pizzeria at night and on weekends; struggling to make ends meet. It wasn’t easy, but she endured.
She met and later married Sebastian “Frank” Pullano in 1958. Frank whisked her away from the projects to a 4 bedroom Dutch Colonial in North Bergen, NJ (Frank’s turf). There they grew from a family of 4 to a family of 6 with the addition of daughters Denise and Rosemarie. Prosperity and the need for more space prompted a move to Upper Saddle River NJ, “God’s country”. Life was good.
After many vacations in Florida, Helen and Frank longing for the sand and sea, moved the family to Jupiter Inlet Colony in 1971. With her zest for life, Helen embraced this new chapter learning to play tennis and golf, taking up oil painting and joining the Garden Club. She also loved dancing with her favorite dance partner, Frank. Once the kids were grown, she got her real estate license at the tender age of 65 and went on to make the “Million Dollar Club” to her great satisfaction. Her most cherished delight though was to be with her children and grandchildren whom she showered with love and affection and nurtured with her talents in the kitchen. She was all about the Joy. Like a cup overflowing, she loved abundantly.
She and Frank later moved to Seminole, Florida to be near their young grandchildren in Tampa.
Helen is predeceased by her mother, father, her husband Frank, sister Phoebe Stanziano and brother Michael Manfre.
She is survived by her brother Bernard Manfre of Saylorsburg PA. Her children: Albert Guzzo (Joanne) and sons Scott and Alex; Gary Guzzo (Cathy) and children, Gina Coffas (Mike), and their children Owen and Quinn; Tony Guzzo; Cory Guzzo (Libby), and their baby Grayson; Denise Pullano (Tim Boaz), and their children Olivia and Julian; Rosemarie Pullano and her son Lucas Hjertberg; will forever remember Helen. She will always travel with us in our hearts.
Visitation for Helen will be held Saturday, September 18, 2021 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at Serenity Funeral Home, 13401 Indian Rocks Road, Largo, FL 33774. A funeral mass and service will occur Saturday, September 18, 2021 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at St. Jerome Catholic Church, 10895 Hamlin Blvd. Largo, FL 33774. (mass can be viewed on the livestream link on https://www.stjeromeonline.org/ A graveside service will occur Saturday, September 18, 2021 from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM at Serenity Gardens Memorial Park, 13401 Indian Rocks Road, Largo, FL 33774.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the family may be shared at www.serenityfuneralhomelargo.com.
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