Helen J. Bontempo

Helen J. Bontempo, 90, of Beaver, passed away peacefully, Friday, July 29, 2016 at Franciscan Manor, Beaver Falls, where she had resided for the last four years.

Born October 18, 1925 in Ruffs Dale, PA, she was a daughter of the late Charles Wolk and Anna Pograniczna Wolk. After graduating from South Huntingdon High School, Helen received an RN degree from the nursing school at Presbyterian Hospital, Pittsburgh, where she became head nurse of a surgical unit at the age of 21. She met her husband, Franklin during his residency at Eye and Ear Hospital in 1947. They married in 1949 and moved to Beaver where Dr. Bontempo joined the staff at Rochester General Hospital and Helen stayed home to raise their growing family of 7 children.

Helen was an avid gardener, a superb cook, a wonderful baker, and holiday feasts around the table were events not to be missed. She was also an accomplished seamstress, sewing many clothes for her children and herself, but somehow found time to take up golf, loving her time at the Beaver Valley Country Club links with her friends. Never having played the game until later in life, Helen took the game very seriously. She won several Club Championships and was a member of the Western Pennsylvania Ladies PGA. Her children recall, however, their mother routinely “losing” to their father Frank, by one stroke every time they played as a couple.

Helen was a tireless volunteer for the Beaver County Medical Auxiliary and served as a long time board member of the McGuire Memorial Home, a facility for severely disabled children in the Beaver Valley. In addition, for 51 years, she served patients at the hospital on the Hospitality Cart, retiring when the hospital closed the program.

Helen was a life-long member of Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, Beaver.

In addition to her parents, Helen was preceded in death by her beloved husband Dr. Franklin A. Bontempo in 1999; her daughter, Carol in 1982; sisters, Katherine, Ann, Mary, and Jean, and brothers, Joseph and Nicholas.

She is survived by four sons; Franklin (Jann Johnston) Bontempo, Pittsburgh, C. Peter (Nancy Rogers) Bontempo, Highlands, NJ, James Bontempo, Brooklyn, NY, and Robert (Giselle Batacan) Bontempo, New York, NY; two daughters, Joan Bontempo, Shepherdstown, WV, and Lisa ( Bill Pierce) Bontempo, Silver Spring, MD; grandchildren, Franklin (Bonnie) Bontempo, San Diego, CA, Anne Bontempo, Pittsburgh, Julia Bontempo and Peter Bontempo, Highlands, NJ, Sarah (Darren) Shaver, Knoxville, TN, Michael Coury, Souzhou, China, and Kay Bontempo and Paul Bontempo, New York, NY; two great-grandchildren, Drew and Allie Shaver, Knoxville, TN, along with her brother John, Ruffs Dale, PA, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received Friday, August 5, 2016 from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm in the Noll Funeral Home, Inc., 333 Third St., Beaver. A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted Saturday, August 6, 2016 at 10:00 am in Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, Beaver. Interment will follow at Beaver Cemetery, Beaver. Online condolences may be shared at nollfuneral.com.

In lieu of flowers, please make a remembrance donation in Helen’s name to the McGuire Memorial Home, 2119 Mercer Road, New Brighton, PA 15066, or www.mcguirememorial.org.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at Franciscan Manor and the Homemaker-Home Health Aide Service of Beaver County, Inc. We will long remember your kindnesses and loving care.