Helen M. Schaefers

1926 - 2023

Helen Marie (Stens) Schaefers, 97, of Tarentum passed away Saturday July 8, 2023. Helen was born Feb. 26, 1926, in what was known as Normantown, East Deer Township, and lived all of her life in the Creighton/Tarentum area. Helen graduated from Tarentum High School, Class of 1944. During WWII, Helen went to Washington, D.C. where she worked in the secretarial pool at the Pentagon. On Sept. 6, 1947, she was united in matrimony with the love of her life, Joseph Conrad Schaefers, of Tarentum, who passed away May 25, 1995. They moved to East Tarentum where she lived in the same house until she was 97 years old. Helen and Joe were former members of the West Penn Radio Club and Carriage Pines Campers. She was also active in the Tarentum Elks where she helped with bingo and visitations to the Veteran's Hospital for many years. She loved to dance at the Elks, especially the "Cha-cha-cha". Her favorite songs were "Under the Boardwalk" and "Dancing Queen". She loved watching the Pittsburgh Pirates play baseball and enjoyed gardening, puzzles and especially spending time with her family, where she was always ready with a new joke to share. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, John Stens and Justine Hrustinec Stens Skubel, both of whom immigrated to the United States from Slovakia; infant son, Ronald Joseph Schaefers (who died in 1948) and son, Joseph John Schaefers, who died Feb. 29, 2008. Survivors include her son, Gary J. (Linda) Schaefers, of Buffalo Township; granddaughters, Jessica (James) Campana, of Collier Township, and Jacqueline Lee Schaefers (Nicole Lee Kochasic), of Allison Park; great-grandsons, Anthony Brayden Campana and Troy James Campana, as well as several cousins. She will be missed by many friends, including Sharon Leonardi and her dance partner, Mary Ann O'Dell. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, 1 University Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15240. Family and friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 11 at the DUSTER FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES INC., 347 E. 10th Ave., Tarentum, 724-224-1526, where a blessing service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Entombment in Mt. Airy Mausoleum will be private. Visit: dusterfh.com.