Helen Elvira Pifko

She will be remembered for her loving heart, quiet strength, and devotion to family.

Born on August 11, 1937, in Bronx, New York to parents Raul and Helen Gutierrez; the oldest of three siblings. Helen graduated from Walton High School in the Bronx and went on to build a long and hard working career. She worked for Republic Aviation in Farmingdale, New York for ten years, later worked for Ciba-Geigy Pharmaceuticals, and devoted 17 years to the Livingston Public Schools as an elementary school office secretary.

Helen lived a life centered around the people she loved most. Family was her passion and her greatest joy. She deeply cherished not only her immediate family, but also her extended family, including nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, and many dear friends. Nothing made her happier than gathering loved ones together, sharing meals, laughter, and time in her welcoming home.

Though quiet and unassuming by nature, Helen had a warm and fun-loving spirit. She was hardworking, loyal, loving, and always ready to laugh. She found joy in gardening, reading, crafts, decorating, creative home projects, and making her house a beautiful place for family and friends to gather.

Those who knew Helen will remember her as a woman of remarkable character and integrity. She was kind, loving, generous, and always willing to share with others. She never spoke an unkind word and was known for being honest, dependable, and deeply family-minded. Helen treated everyone with dignity and respect, and her quiet example of compassion and integrity left a lasting impression on all who knew her.

Helen’s life was a quiet example of love, devotion, and grace. She created a home filled with warmth, brought family together across generations, and gave of herself endlessly to the people she loved. Though her presence will be profoundly missed, the memories she created, the traditions she nurtured, and the love she shared so freely will continue to live on in the hearts of her family forever. Her legacy is not only in the life she lived, but in the family she held together with unwavering love.

Helen is survived by her beloved husband of 61 years, Edward Pifko, Jr.; her daughter, Catherine Pifko Durish, and son-in-law, John Durish; her grandsons, John Durish and Christopher Durish; her sister, Sylvia Levy and sister-in-law Gloria Gutierrez; along with many cherished extended family members and lifelong friends. Helen was preceded in death by her brother, Richard Gutierrez.

May her memory be a blessing, and may she rest in peace.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Quinn Hopping Funeral Home, 145 East Mount Pleasant Ave, Livingston, NJ 07039, with a Prayer Service taking place at 5:30 pm at the funeral home.