Helen Catherine Hanecak-Noel

Helen Catherine Hanecak-Noel, Ph.D, 87, of Wallingford, CT passed away peacefully on Friday, September 18, 2026, at Yale New Haven Hospital. She was the loving wife of 54 years to the late Raymond Pierre Noel, who passed away on February 9, 2026.

Born on July 25, 1939 in Bristol, CT Helen was the daughter of the late Jacob and Katarina (Draggosek) Hanecak.

Helen dedicated her life to caring for others. She earned her bachelor and masters degrees from University of Hartford and her doctorate degree from Walden University in Nursing and Education. She worked as a nurse practitioner for 25 years at the Connecticut VA Medical Center in West Haven before retiring. While working, she was also an assistant professor at both Sacred Heart University and Yale University. She was involved in many research projects resulting in 11 publications in the medical field. In 2004, she was honored in Washington, DC for Department of Veterians Affairs Recipient of Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Nursing.

In her personal life, she was a dual citizen of the United States and Slovakia, where she maintained close family ties. Upon retirement, Helen loved spending her summers at their family cottage at Newfound Lake, New Hampshire. She enjoyed hosting parties for her family and friends. Helen never stopped learning and her many hobbies included, hiking, sewing, baking bread and even taking up the game of golf at the age of 80!

Helen will be lovingly remembered by her two children, Karen Rae Dunlevy and her husband, Kevin, of Milford, CT and Jeffrey Raymond Noel and his wife, Kathy, of Rock Hill, South Carolina; her three grandchildren, Kent, Kimberly, and Max; her brother, Jack Hanecak and his wife, Gloria, of Waterbury, CT; and her sister, Mary Ann Derynoiski, of Southington, CT as well as many nieces and nephews. She will also be dearly missed by her beloved cat Lukas.

Helen’s family would like to thank her neighbors and Smilow Cancer Hospital for all their care and support. Donations in her memory can be made to Yale New Haven Hospital.

Services for Helen will be privately held with her family.

The DellaVecchia Funeral Home, 211 N. Main St., Southington, has been entrusted with the arrangements.