Helen DiFranco

Helen Samulis DIFranco

Helen DiFranco died Tuesday, January 5, 2016 in Country Meadows.

She was born June 27, 1920 in Van Voorhis, a daughter of John and Anna Mink Samulis.

During WW II, she served in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) and worked at Continental Can during the war effort.  Later, she operated a beauty shop in her home.  In her spare time, she enjoyed crafting, gardening and spending time with her pets, Minnie, Penny and Tammie.  She loved her hometown of Canonsburg and never failed to extol its virtues to family and friends.

On October 22, 1951 in St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church in Canonsburg, she married Thomas DiFranco, who died April 4, 2004.

Deceased are her sisters, Tressa Barbera and Mary Stankus, and a brother, John Samulis.

Left to cherish her memory are nieces, Mary Anne Briselli and Dorothy Briselli, nephews John Stankus and Stephen Briselli, sister-in-law Delphina DeFilippo, niece Nina Ward, nephew Robert DeFilippo, Godchild Rosemarie Stolarski and several great and great-great nieces and nephews. 

The family wishes to acknowledge and thank the various departments at Country Meadows for the excellent care provided to her during her stay, and also thank her long-time neighbor and friend, Nancy Udodow, who watched after her at home.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in Mario L. DeAngelo Funeral Home at 194 East College St., in Canonsburg.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Saturday January 9, 2016 in St. Mary’s Church, Cecil, with the Rev. Stan Gregorek officiating.  Interment will follow in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Canonsburg.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Washington County Area Humane Society, 1527 Route 136, Eighty Four, PA 15330.

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