Helen Nardelli

Helen Nardelli was born in the Bronx to Benedetta and Giuseppe Timpano in 1922. She was the youngest of 7 children. Several generations lived at the same address and she was surrounded by her family.

Sadly, she lost her father to cancer when she was 11 years old.

Helen attended Evander Childs High School and Hunter College. She later was employed by Best & Company, American Can Company, and Union Carbide. Her sister Angie introduced her to a gentle man with a good sense of humor, Joseph Nardelli. They married on May 22, 1960, and took excellent care of each other until Joe's passing in 1999. They had one daughter, Irene, and were loving, generous and kind parents. Helen devoted herself to caring for her family. Helen organized family outings, often a picnic at the Bronx Botanical Garden. Her siblings were her closest friends and in their later years she was often their caregiver and fierce advocate. Helen always put her family first and was devoted to Joe, Irene and her husband George. She found great joy in her grandchildren Michael, Matthew and Joseph.

Helen was a great cook and loved to see people enjoy a meal. She was also an early advocate of healthy eating. Helen loved green and growing things and surrounded herself with plants. She always wrote a rough draft of every note or letter, so her words were thoughtful and well chosen. Helen taught English as a second language in the 70's, and was the first person I know to eat sushi (made by her students.)

Helen was predeceased by most of her loving family, parents, husband, siblings, most of her cousins and her niece Bonnie.

She is survived by her daughter Irene, son-in- law George, grandchildren Michael, Matthew and Joseph, beloved niece Joan and nephews Joseph, Billy and their families. She is also survived by Joe's wonderful nieces and nephews and their families.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation a charity of your choosing.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 9, 2017 at 10am at St. Madeleine Sophie Church, 3500 Carman Rd., Schenectady, NY 12303. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 8, 2017 at New Comer Funerals & Cremations, 343 New Karner Rd., Albany, NY 12205. Interment will be held at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY.

To leave a special message for the family online please click the link above to 'share memories'.