Helen Veronica Fugett

Helen Veronica Fugett of Mt Vernon, NY passed away on Saturday, October 22. She was 94 years old. Born in lower Hells Kitchen to Mary and Thomas Keeley, Helen grew up in New York City during the Depression. After graduating from High School, Helen went to work for the phone company. Her job as a telephone operator would put in the path of many well-known people. Once she was thrilled to connect a call from Frank Sinatra to his wife Nancy.

Before the start of WW II, Helen met John Fugett. John went off to fight in WW II and he and Helen would write letters to each other throughout the war. Upon John's return, the two would marry and move to Washington Heights where they would raise their two children. The family moved to Westwood, NJ in 1976.

Helen was a woman of deep faith and devotion. Although she spent many hours as an active volunteer in roles as Girl Scout Leader and community event organizer, she also found time to dedicate to her Church. She loved to travel but loved being home with friends and family even more. She loved being around people and celebrating the holidays. The family enjoyed a vacation home in Highland Lakes, NJ and this was Helen's sanctuary. She loved to fill her home with laughter and song and her hearty laugh will be missed by all who knew her.

Helen is pre-deceased by her beloved husband, Jack. She is survived by her children Mary (Robert Clemente) and Jack (Martha Van Nuis). She will be greatly missed by her six grandchildren: Joseph, Paul, Anne Marie and Kristen Clemente and Kate and John Fugett. She will be loving remembered by her six great grandchildren: Aiden, Gabriel, Nico, Dario, Gino, and Caelynn.

A celebration of Helen's life will be held on Tuesday, October 25th from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 PM at Pelham Funeral Home, 64 Lincoln Ave., Pelham, New York. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial at St Catharine's Church, 25 Second Ave., Pelham, NY at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, October 26th. Interment will follow the Mass at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY. For more information or to leave a condolence please visit www.pelhamfuneral.com