Name: Visitation for Helen Patacchiola
Start: 2018-07-27T21:00:00.000Z
End: 2018-07-27T23:00:00.000Z
Location: Daniels & Hutchison Funeral Home - Middletown

Helen Patacchiola

Townsend - Helen Patacchiola passed away July 23, 2018 after a short illness. She is survived by her children, Stephen of AZ, Sandra Rogan (James) of NY and Susan (Edward) Webb of DE.

A visitation will be held on Friday, July 27th from 5 - 7:00 PM at Daniels & Hutchison Funeral Home, 212 N. Broad St., Middletown, DE. A celebration of Helen's life will be held on Saturday, July 28th at 10 AM in the chapel at All Saints Cemetery, 6001 Kirkwood Hwy, Wilmington, DE 19808.

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Published by The News Journal on Jul. 26, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Helen Patacchiola

Sponsored by Daniels & Hutchison Funeral Home - Middletown.

4 Entries

Marcia (Gramigna) Thompson

July 31, 2018

Aunt Helen and Uncle Gino were a big part of my life growing up in New York and for several years after we moved to Pennsylvania. Although I wasn't able to stay in touch with all of you, I won't ever forget the love, joy, and sense of family that Aunt Helen represented. Being around her was so much fun, and filled with laughter. I know you all--and anyone who had the good fortune to know her--will miss her very much. I hope you find peace and comfort in the memories you have of her. God bless.

Marianne Kaplan

July 27, 2018

Sandy, I am so sorry for the loss of your dear mother. Although I did no know her, I know of her through you, and she sounds like a great woman. She must have been to have raised you. Sending love and prayers.

Michael and Danielle DeLaurenzo

July 26, 2018

We are so sorry for your loss. Our family has made a donation to the House of Hope Animal rescue in her honor- may she Rest In Peace.

Richard Cozzi

July 24, 2018

Remembering My Aunt Helen:

Its with great sadness that our family says good-bye to my Aunt Helen. She was a wonderful women and my last surviving aunt from my mothers side. She possessed a great sense of humor and a loving sense of family. She was dedicated to her children, grand kids, nieces and nephews. She also displayed an amazing devotion to her sisters and brothers that endured the occasional family squabbles as well as more serious trials and tribulations.

She was a product of the great depression and like her sisters and brothers needed to work with the proceeds contributed to the family. Despite those obligations, she became the first and only of the Vetere girls to earn a high school diploma. A smart and obstinate women, we would frequently revert to a discussion of politics when talking on the phone.

Early on she and Uncle Gino lived upstairs from us. Most mornings, after Uncle Gino went to work, she would come downstairs where she and Mom would chat, have their morning coffee together so she was an always around figure (like a second Mother).

Occasionally when my mother needed a break she would get rid of me by sending me upstairs to visit Auntie Helen. Eventually I would get into her hair and she would tell me to go listen to records on the Vitrola, as they called it, in this little sitting room (later to become Stephens) room. She had great records! Records that were instrumental in creating my musical frame of reference. Wes Montgomery, Nat King Cole, Django Reinhardt and a whole string of Italian singers that when heard today always bring me back to where I heard them first.

I will never forget where I first learned the truth about Santa Claus. We were having Christmas Eve dinner, upstairs at her house. I remember the white claim sauce the filet of fish and the big bowl of assorted nuts especially the hazel nuts for some reason. By the way she was a great cook who prided herself using only fresh tomatoes, not canned tomatoes for her tomato sauce, which of course was fantastic.

When dinner was over my father snuck away to place gifts under the tree downstairs. When done, he yelled up the stairs, Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas. The thing is in the Italian language, one does not pronounce the Hs so I heard O, O, O, Merry Christmas. Even at such a young age I knew Santa was not Italian and does in fact pronounce his Hs. The jig was up and the truth be known. It all happened at Auntie Helens and we laughed together about that story a number of times.

As her family grew Uncle Gino and Aunt Helen moved the family to Long Island and alas, we saw much less of each other. Through the years we kept in touch by phone and at family functions but nothing could replace her presence in those early years.

I will miss my Aunt Helen, the talks, the joking and guidance that all your Aunts and Uncles give you. You never realize how much influence someone has had in shaping your development because its happens ever so gradually.

Its with great love and great sorrow, I say goodbye to my Aunt Helen and pray the heavens clear a path for her.

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