Helen Duncan

Helen Duncan
Helen Genevieve Burcz Duncan, age 99, passed peacefully, in the arms of her beloved family, at Harbor Chase Assisted Living Center in Branford. Helen or "Helcha" as she was affectionately known, was born August 18, 1926, in Naugatuck, Connecticut. She was raised in New Haven with her four siblings and parents. She attended St. Stanislaus School and Wilbur Cross High School. She held positions with large companies in the city, including Cott Beverage and Marlin Firearms. After marrying Robert 'Bob" Weis Duncan, Jr. in 1959, the couple lived an active lifestyle of sports and travel. They bowled and golfed to their hearts' desire. They vacationed all over the country and documented their adventures with carefully annotated picture albums. Her priority, however, was visiting family and friends on a daily basis. She was a master of the drop-in visit, and her positivity and compassion were always delivered with perfect timing. This was a tremendous gift to all who were lucky enough to be on Helen's visiting list.
Helen and Bob never had children of their own, but Helen's brother and sisters had plenty. These were Helen's "children." She assumed her role as Aunt and second mother with pride and conviction. Helen was an outstanding role model in that she taught us to praise the Lord with joyful enthusiasm. She was a member of The Witness gospel group, Renew, and her Bible study group. She was a Eucharistic Minister at St. Bernadette Church in New Haven, and she managed a role in a local production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Helen spoke continuously about all the beautiful work of Jesus Christ on Earth that she knew most of us took for granted. It became her singular purpose to shine a light in the dark for anyone who struggled to find faith.
Helen is survived by her loving nieces and nephews, Joy (Chris) Healey, Pamela (George) Ganim, Richard Kramer, Karen Kramarczyk, Jeannie (Dominick) Mastriano and Nadine Whittleton. She also leaves behind several grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews. Helen is also survived by her cherished friends, Jessie DiAdamo and her husband, Arthur (Butch) DiAdamo, Honey Coppola and her loving family, Audra Langella, Antoinette "Toni" Oliviera, and her amazing neighbor, the one and only Tootsie Franco.
Helen was predeceased be her parents, Casimere "Charlie" Burcz and Genevieve "Jen" Razinski Burcz, her husband, Robert Duncan, her brother, Eugene (Olga) Burcz, her three sisters, Frances (Joseph) Cerino, Gertrude (Stanley) Kramarczyk and Carol (John) Esposito, as well as her nephews, Joseph (Sharon) Cerino and Claude Burch, and a niece Michelle Lindberg.
The family would like to thank the staff at Harbor Chase for the tremendous care she received, especially in the last few months. Finally, we must brag that Helcha spent her 99 years in nearly perfect health. She lived independently until the age of 98. With her niece, Joy, by her side these last few years, Helcha shopped, dined out, and still visited her family up until a month after her 98th birthday. She credited her high-quality longevity to "low salt," 8-10 hours of sleep a night, a disinterest in material things, spending time with loved ones, and her dedication to the Lord.
Visiting hours will be Wednesday, November 12th, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. in the Iovanne Funeral Home, Inc., 11 Wooster Place. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Bernadette Church at St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish at 10:00 a.m. The burial will be in All Saints Cemetery. Helen's family requests memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.org . Share a memory or message of condolence by visiting Helen's Tribute page at www.iovanne.com .