Helen Louise Patrisso

1930 - 2025

Helen Louise Patrisso

August 29, 1930 - April 16, 2025

Helen Louise Patrisso, 94, a ten month resident of the Elizabeth Scott Community long term care, and formerly of Temperance, Michigan, passed into the presence of her Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. She is reunited with her beloved husband, Frank N. Patrisso, who preceded her in death in December, 2000. The youngest daughter of Julius E. Prifogle and Linnie M. (Snyder) Prifogle, she was born at home on August 29, 1930, in Tipton, Indiana. Helen grew up in Toronto, Canada, where her family moved when she was two years old. She attended Bedford Park Elementary School, skipping third and fifth grades and Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute in Canada. Her family moved back to the United States one month before her fifteenth birthday. Helen attended Richmond High School in Richmond, Indiana, graduating in June, 1947, at sixteen years old. The day following graduation she began working for Johns Manville in Richmond from 1947 to 1950 as the payroll clerk. Helen married Frank N. Patrisso on October 15, 1949, at Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church in Richmond. They were faithfully married for 51 years.

Helen has three children who survive her: daughter, Cheri (Dennis Rabb); son, Jeffrey Patrisso and former daughter-in-law, Lisa Patrisso; daughter, Holly (Don Mathewson). She leaves behind her ten precious grandchildren, Rachel, Timothy, and Stephen Rabb; Paul (Brooke) Patrisso, Lindsey (Anthony) Vandagriff, Marissa (Jared) Condon, Gregrey (Natalie) Patrisso; Joel (Heizel) Mathewson, Nathan Mathewson, and Anna Mathewson. Helen had welcomed with joy five great-grandsons and six great-granddaughters, with another great-granddaughter to arrive in June of 2025 to Gregrey and Natalie Patrisso, their first child. Helen was predeceased by her parents; siblings, Margaret Jean, Edith Mae, and John Stanley; and nephews, Jamie and John Prifogle. She is survived by nephews, Barry Wood, Robert Shepard; and nieces, Judy (Shepard) Martin, Jean (Prifogle) Hoff, Diane (Prifogle) Ferlauto.

Helen's faith and trust in Jesus and her family were her earthly treasures. She was fulfilled and contented as a wife, mother, and homemaker, caring for her loved ones. Her hobbies included reading, writing poetry, knitting, and baking. In the simple life she led, Helen's enduring legacy was her example of faith, hope, courage, and guidance from God's sustaining love and daily provision. She shared a bright smile, a tender touch or hug, and a sincere gentle word of encouragement to whomever she became acquainted with. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Helen was a member and actively involved in the Bedford Alliance Church for 18 years until a fall and declining health limited her abilities. She then came to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Cheri and Dennis Rabb, for six years, and finally needed the skill of a long-term care facility.

Visitation will be at the Michael W. Pawlak Funeral Home, on Friday, April 25th, from 3 to 8 p.m. The Celebration of Life service will be at the funeral home on April 26, 2025, at 11 a.m. The burial at Whiteford Union Cemetery in Ottawa Lake Michigan will be private, for family only. Officiating will be her son-in-law, Dennis J. Rabb.

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