Helen C. Adonizio, R.N., 94, of Pittston, died Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at her home. She was the daughter of the late Frank and Catherine Gavenda Soltis. Her husband of 57 years, Charles A. Adonizio, preceded her in death in 2003.
She was born in Port Griffith September 27th, 1922, and moved to Jessup at the age of 13 to help her grandmother recover from a fall. She graduated from Jessup High School Class of 1939 and Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Scranton in 1943. In her later years, she was a private duty nurse for the Honorable Frank L. Pinola. Nursing was her true calling and she brought sunshine into every sick room she entered. Helen never met a stranger. Her bright blue eyes and beautiful smile opened many doors but her real gift was her genuine charm and loving heart.
Helen met her husband, Charles “Cugsy,” while he was a commissioned U.S. Naval officer. She walked into a room in her bright white nursing uniform and from that moment, her glow captivated him. He always said, “She looked like an angel.” They got married April 22, 1946 and enjoyed 57 very full years together. They travelled on the Queen Mary 2, enjoyed trips to Hawaii and many other U.S. cities, but their favorite trips were those winters spent with their “Myrtle Beach Club” friends in South Carolina.
Helen was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, hard-working nurse, a kind friend and a good neighbor.
Helen loved to cook, especially everyone’s favorite, “Mom Mom’s Chicken.” She hosted family gatherings at every holiday, where everyone went away happy and with ample containers of leftovers. She loved her Slovak heritage and a good rousing polka. Her signature song, “You are my sunshine,” was sung to all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren over the years.
She was member of St. Joseph Marello Parish in Pittston.
Helen was the last remaining member of her immediate family. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded by her daughter, Christine Thompson and infant son; brothers, Frank, Joe “Lefty” and John; sisters, Anna Parks, Mary Tull, Dorothy Duvall, Veronica Soltis and Rita DeSanto.
Surviving are her daughters, Judy and Mark Yanchek, Phoenixville; Gloria and Jim Blandina, Wyoming; Jane and Paul Lukas, Courtdale; sons, Charles and Karen Adonizio, Plains Township; Patrick and Judy Adonizio, Harveys Lake; grandchildren, Jane and Dennis Quinn, West Chester, Sue and Ryan Hemenway, West Chester, Katie Yanchek, Phoenixville and Mark Yanchek, Jr., Phoenixville; Jaime and Jay Weinschenk, Duryea, Michael and Arienne Blandina, Raleigh, NC; Robert and Carol Thompson, Texas , James Thompson, Ohio; Kristie Adonizio, Plains Township, Chad Adonizio, Philadelphia; Jacki Lukas, Courtdale, Whitney Lukas, Durango, CO, Luke Lukas, Courtdale ; Julia Adonizio, Harveys Lake, Jake Adonizio, Harveys Lake; great-grandchildren, Kelly Anne Quinn; Sawyer and Rhett Hemenway; Jackson and Scarlett Thompson; Barrett Weinschenk; Enzo, Giada and Josephine Blandina; sisters-in-law, Mary Soltis, Jenkins Township, Anna Starna, Pittston and Eleanor Adonizio, Pittston; several nieces and nephews and many friends.
Funeral services will be Friday, June 23, 2017 at 9am from Adonizio Funeral Home, LLC, 251 William Street, Pittston with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30am in St. Joseph Marello Parish, 237 William Street, Pittston. Interment, Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Carverton. Friends may call Thursday, June 22, 2017 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at the funeral home. Donations, if desired, can be made to St. Joseph’s Center, 2010 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509.
You’ll always be our sunshine!