Helga Renate Camasso

Helga Renate Camasso, née Peleikis, passed away January 10, 2025 in Princeton, NJ. Born May 16, 1938, in Insterburg, East Prussia, Germany, Helga was the middle of three children, born to Michel and Anna (Ramminger) Peleikis. She was predeceased by her parents, brother Lothar, and her husband of 60 years, Thomas, who passed away in July 2024. Helga is survived by sister-in-law Maria Peleikis of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; her brother Bernd Peleikis and his wife, Elke of Bad Kreuznach, Germany; brothers- and sisters-in-law Ralph and Maureen Camasso of Spring Hill, FL, and Joseph and Patricia Dempsey of Conshohocken, PA; her daughters, Dr. Karen Camasso and her partner, Ilah Adkins of Bay Village, Ohio and Kathy Galvin née Camasso, and her husband Matthew of Belle Mead, NJ, as well as nine cherished nieces and nephews and five adored grandchildren, Katie Richardson, Thomas, Emily, Andrew and Anna Galvin. Helga met her future husband, Tom in 1962 while he was in the US Army, stationed in Germany. After their marriage in 1964, they settled in Blue Bell, PA to raise their family. Helga retired in 2000 following 26 years working for IMS Health in Plymouth Meeting. Helga led an extraordinary life, some details of which she only recently shared with her children and grandchildren. She spent her early childhood in wartime Germany and her father's death was unknown until years after the war. The young family escaped the pillaging of advancing Russian soldiers when a farmer hid them in a hay wagon to ferry them at night to the Allied lines. Several years of hardship followed, but Helga and her brothers were protected and supported by their mother's love and tough determination. Those early years shaped Helga's approach to life. She appreciated and never took for granted the better life that she and Tom worked hard to create for their family. Helga's family and children came first and she took immense pride in her daughters' and grandchildren's activities and achievements. Helga enjoyed travelling to visit her family in Canada and Germany, ski trips to Vermont with family and friends, beach vacations especially at Sunset Beach, NC and playing mahjong with her friends. She loved to cook and many gatherings and holidays were centered around her meals. Relatives and friends are invited to Helga's Funeral Mass on Thursday, January 16th at 11 AM at St. Helena Church, 1489 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422. Visitation will be held in the St. Helena Narthex beginning at 10 AM prior to the funeral service. Interment will be Friday, January 17th at 9:30 AM at Washington Crossing National Cemetery where Helga will join her beloved husband. In lieu of flowers and in gratitude for the professional and gentle care Helga received, please send donations in Helga's memory to the Princeton Medical Center Hospice at www.PennMedicine.org/hospice-donate or to any cancer research organization of your choice. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Helga, please visit our floral store.