Helen Walsh

It is with great sorrow but gratitude for the long time that we were blessed with her presence that her family announces the loss of Helen E. Walsh. She passed peacefully into eternal rest at Sunnyside Manor where she was affectionately known as " Grandma" by the extraordinary staff who cared for her there. She was known for her love of music, and she loved to sing along with the many musical guests that visited Sunnyside Manor. Her repertoire of songs was remarkable. She was also known for her love of Bingo as she proudly won many prizes.
Helen was born in Newark, New Jersey on February 10, 1928, and lived in Newark with her father Louis Torsiello, sister Dorothy, grandmother and several aunts and uncles who all cared for her after the loss of her mother Ethel Marshall Torsiello when she was three weeks old. She was very proud of her accomplishments in elementary school. She moved to Hillside, New Jersey where she attended High School and excelled there as well. After graduation she was employed at what was then Bristol Myers as an executive secretary for the head of the research department. Helen married William R. Walsh Jr. on August 26, 1950. She left Bristol Myers to raise a family; and was an accomplished homemaker who could do everything from hanging wallpaper to creating intricate crocheted afghans and clothing. She also excelled at sewing a wide variety of fabric creations from curtains to matching dresses for herself and her two daughters. She loved gardening and traveling, making several trips to Europe after her children were grown. Above all she was a devoted mother and grandmother who took advantage of every possible opportunity to spend time with her children and grandchildren. She loved celebrating birthdays, including her own and always found ways to make birthday celebrations memorable. Helen was an avid fan of playing cards and played poker with her beloved cousins weekly for many years. She also taught her cherished grandchildren many card games and many songs, particularly Shirley Temple songs. All of her children and grandchildren can sing "On the Good Ship Lollipop" in entirety. She loved to water ski and was happy to share this skill with her children and grandchildren. Helen and her husband Bill helped them all to learn to water ski with their boat on Barnegat Bay. She had an exceptional sense of fashion and was impeccably dressed every day of her life.
Helen is survived by her devoted children: Karen and her husband Peter G. Tarricone and Colleen and her husband Michael Maroney, Jr. She leaves her legacy of love with her five cherished grandchildren: Celeste and husband Justin Lemrow, Peter D. Tarricone and wife Danielle, Megan Maroney, Michael Maroney and Allison and husband Elliot Lobell. She also leaves her lasting loving legacy with five great grandchildren: Harrison, Alexia, Reese, Emmett and Ori.
Helen was predeceased by her loving husband of 71 years William R. Walsh Jr., her son William R. Walsh III, her sister Dorothy June Delli Santi and her brother Wayne L. Torsiello. She is survived by her sister Gail Zinna and husband Michael Zinna.
Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Friday, February 28 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Orender Family Home for Funerals, 2643 Old Bridge Road, Manasquan, NJ 08736. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 10 a.m. at St. Denis Church, 90 Union Avenue, Manasquan, NJ 08736. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Helen's name are encouraged to be made to Brielle EMS, Inc., P.O. Box 262, Brielle, NJ 08730. To send condolences to the family, please visit www.orenderfamilyhome.net