Helen Kathleen Calabretta

Helen Kathleen Calabretta
January 9, 1929 - June 15, 2013
Resident of Atascadero, CA
Helen Calabretta of Atascadero, passed into eternal rest Saturday June 15 of natural causes. Helen was born to Joe and Mary Viera on January 9, 1929, at the family's home just outside of Hollister, California. She grew up in San Jose, California where she met the love of her life Salvatore Calabretta (deceased) at a local dance and they married in 1950. Helen and Sal moved to Fremont, California where their three children, Dominic (deceased), Nancy and Timothy all grew up. Helen is survived by her children Nancy Schuman of Newbury Park and Tim Calabretta of Atascadero and her beloved sisters Isabel Vasconcellos, Margaret Vasconcellos and Lucy Bettencourt. Helen is also survived by eight grandchildren: Katherine Sliney, Rachel Earle, Jacob Calabretta, Phillip Calabretta, Nicole Calabretta, Gabrielle Calabretta, Michael Calabretta and Cory Calabretta, all of whom were the delight of her life. Helen is predeceased by her father and mother Joe and Mary Viera, her husband Salvatore Calabretta, her son Dominic Calabretta and her siblings Joaquin Viera, John Viera and Bernadette Taylor.
After being a resident of Fremont for almost fifty years, Helen returned to her California countryside roots and moved to Atascadero, California in the spring of 2009. Helen quickly became a beloved member of her Atascadero Christian Home extended family, where she touched so many lives with her endearing personality. Helen loved art and generously shared her gift in the form of paintings and personally designed greeting cards with her friends and family alike, and in 2011 she was honored as one of the distinguished senior artists in northern San Luis Obispo County.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Atascadero Christian Home for the benefit of the residents that are in need of financial support to meet their daily living needs or the American Cancer Society.
Rosary Service Sunday, June 23, 2013 at 3:00P.M. at LIMA-CAMPAGNA-ALAMEDA MISSION CHAPEL, 600 S. 2nd St., San Jose. Graveside Service Monday, June 24, 2013 at 11:00 A.M. at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery, Santa Clara.