Helen Jeffrey Cangialosi of Rumson passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family, Jan. 22, 2023. She was 87.
Helen was born Feb. 16, 1935, in Red Bank. She was the daughter of Jacob and Kathryn Jeffrey and grew up in Shrewsbury. She attended St. James Elementary School and graduated from Red Bank Catholic High School in 1953. After high school she attended the Washington School for Secretaries and worked in New York City.
Helen met her husband Tom on a blind date and they married Jan. 29, 1955. Shortly after marriage, they moved to Washington, D.C. where Tom was enrolled in Georgetown University School of Dentistry. There they began building a beautiful life that spanned seven decades. In 1961, they headed back to New Jersey to be near a large extended family and friends.
Helen was known for her kindness, generosity, playful sense of humor, and genuine concern for others. People were the fuel that made her go and her family was the joy of her life. While raising four children she was a board member of Holy Cross Elementary School in Rumson, the chairwoman of the annual Holy Cross Antique Show, an active member in the PTA and the Alter Guild at Holy Cross Church. Additionally, she was the office manager for her husband’s orthodontic practice in Shrewsbury from 1980 to 2016.
In her later years she became an avid runner and traveled extensively with her husband, serving as the president of the Wives Club of the American Board of Orthodontics. Her enthusiasm and curiosity won her many friends worldwide.
She was a devoted and loving mother and grandmother. Helen was immensely proud of her children and grandchildren, each of whom she had a unique and special relationship with. This also includes all of her four-legged children and grandchildren.
Helen was predeceased by her parents, Jacob and Kathryn, brother John, and son Stephen, lost on 9/11. She is survived by her adoring husband of 68 years Dr. Thomas J. Cangialosi and three children, Betsy and her husband Richard of Dorset, Vermont; Tom and his wife Kathleen of Middletown; and Kathleen and her husband Brian of Tinton Falls. She had 12 grandchildren: Willy, Lizzy, Sam, Emily, Jeffrey, Peter, Tara, Julia, Katie, Thomas, Maggie and Michael; and two great-grandchildren, Aelyn and Liam.
Though she will be missed immensely, Helen’s family finds comfort in knowing she has been reunited with all of her family members who have passed before her and is finally at home with our Lord Jesus.
Family and friends may visit from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27 at John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Ave., Red Bank. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 at Holy Cross Church in Rumson.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Red Bank Catholic High School at redbankcatholic.org/give. Memories and condolences may be shared at johnedayfuneralhome.com.
The family would like to send a special thanks to Helen’s caregivers, Christine, Sheryl and Velma, all of whom cared for her with great kindness and compassion.
The article originally appeared in the January 26 – February 1, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
