Helen Wancho Crispell

January 25, 2010

Helen Wancho Crispell, 94, passed away peacefully on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010. Born and raised in Swoyersville, she was the oldest daughter of Joseph Wancho and Anna Metro Wancho. Helen was one of 10 brothers and sisters, including Fredrick Wancho, John (Dempsey) Wancho, Eleanor Hufford, Joseph (Butzie) Wancho, Marie Van Loon, Andrew (Chirp) Wancho, Anna Mae Owens, and two younger siblings, George and Edward, who died in their early years of life. All are deceased. On July 8, 1964, Helen married the love of her life, Harry Crispell. They spent their married years living in the Dallas area. Helen loved her family and was very close to her siblings. She especially loved her nephews, Bob and Johnny, whom she helped raise after the death of their mother, Madeline. She loved her garden and worked very hard all her life, including many years working as a presser at various laundries in the area, the last one being Mary Mackintosh in Wilkes-Barre. Helen also loved to play hard and especially loved bingo. She was a regular at the Rose Room in Luzerne when that was the place to go and lima beans were used to cover the cards. She could play 50 cards at a time and never miss a number. Recently, Helen lived at The Laurels in Wyoming, where any day with bingo on the activities list was a great day. She had her pennies ready in the basket of her walker. And as luck would have it, she would win. Helen was a generous and loving aunt to her many nieces and nephews and their children. She baked the best poppy seed and nut rolls, and her holiday dinners were filled with family traditions that provided lasting memories for her family. She was a feisty gal right up until the end. She will be missed terribly by those who loved her. She is survived by many nieces and nephews, and two brothers-in-law. Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday from the Richard H. Disque Funeral Home Inc., 672 Memorial Highway, Dallas, Fr. Joseph Bertha of St. Nicholas Church, Swoyersville, officiating. Interment will be in the Beaumont Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday, from 6 to 8 p.m.