Helen Kaftan

Helen Artemis Kaftan nee Johnson, 92, passed away peacefully on January 25, 2025. Helen was born to immigrants from Greece who settled in Inwood, New York City. Helen, her brothers Johnny and Artie, and her parents Pasquali and Eudoxia lived in a small 1-bedroom apartment filled with music, love, and laughter.
As a young girl, Helen was a gifted soprano in the St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church in Washington Heights and even performed at Carnegie Hall with the All-City Choir. After high school, Helen worked as a secretary until meeting the love of her life, George Kaftan. At the time, George was a professional basketball player for the NY Knicks. After he retired from pro-ball, Helen and George married and moved to Washington, DC. There, Helen worked as a secretary at the Pentagon.
Helen and George raised their three daughters in Muttontown, Long Island. In her 40s, after the children were grown, Helen enrolled at CW Post College to finally earn her college degree, and then afterwards went on to earn her Masters Degree in Counseling. Helen loved her work in education counseling for minority and underprivileged women for training and job opportunities.
When Helen and George moved to NJ, they settled in The Four Seasons community in Manasquan where they met a wonderful group of friends for traveling, golf, volunteering, and life-long special memories. But Helen's most treasured moments came from time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who knew her as Yiayia and Big Yiayia respectively. On the annual family fishing trips to Canada, Helen made sure no one missed each evening's sunset because "Oooooh this one is beautiful!"
Helen is survived by her daughters Esta and husband Jeff, Evelyn and husband Charlie, and Georgette. Helen was blessed to be Yiayia to her beloved grandchildren Stephen and wife Erin, Michael and wife Kristin, Evan, Natasha, and Grant; she was blessed to be Big Yiayia to Harper, Beckett, and Philomena: and she was blessed to be Aunt to Eve and Paul Johnson.
We will miss Helen dearly and send her off with a phrase she used often... Safe footsteps!
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 29th at 10:00 am at Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 2200 Church Road, Toms River, NJ. The Interment will follow at Atlantic View Cemetery, Church Street, Manasquan, NJ 08736.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Legion:
Arthur W. Potts Memorial Post 529
1540 Tanner Avenue
Manasquan, NJ 08736-9255
Arrangements are under the care of Orender Family Home for Funerals, Manasquan, NJ. To send condolences to the family please visit www.orenderfamilyhome.net.