Beryl Maxine Helsel

Beryl “Maxine” Helsel, 83, from Portage passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 29th, 2019 at Phoebe Richland Rehab Center. Maxine was the daughter of Harry and Mary (McAttackney) Chambers and stepfather Ernest Silk . She is predeceased by her parents, her brother Patick Chambers, ex-husband Leo Helsel, sons Patrick and John, and granddaughter Jules. Her brother, Patrick, was a pilot for the British Navy. She was born February 23, 1935 and raised in England, and was studying nursing when she met and married Leo Helsel of Portage, who was stationed in London in the US Air Force. Though they divorced after 15 years of marriage they remained friends and neither remarried. After living on bases in the states, Canada and the Netherlands, they settled in Portage in 1965, where she lived until recently when she moved to Bucks County PA to be near her daughter and son. Maxine was a devoted mother to her four children, and later a fun Nana to her grandchildren. She worked as a waitress at the Keystone Truck Stop for many years. She was also a caregiver for Lenape Foundation and Home Instead. Though Maxine maintained the status of registered alien and never became a US citizen, she was very patriotic and was involved in the Amvets Lady Auxiliary and was a member of several other veterans organizations. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, and playing in a woman’s softball league in her younger years and was an avid Steelers fan. She also enjoyed traveling to visit family, once going alone to San Diego for her son Michael’s Navy graduation, and to Virginia, Florida, South Carolina and New Jersey when her son John was stationed there in the Navy, She especially enjoyed a trip to Disney world for her 70th birthday with her daughter Donna and family. She was a member of the former St. Joseph’s Church and spent many years volunteering there when her children were in school. She had a great sense of humor and many remember how she used to go “all out” at Halloween, making her porch a scary but fun trick-or-treat stop. Maxine is survived by her daughter Donna Devlin, son-in-law Adam, of Quakertown PA, son Michael, daughter-in-law Trisha (Smith) Helsel of Warminster, PA, daughter-in-law Marsha (Roberts) Helsel, of Portage PA, grandchildren Jason Helsel (Julie Waite), Jon Helsel (Amanda Bridge ), Kaitlyn Helsel, Taylor Jenks (Trevor), Destiny Devlin, Rilee Helsel, Nicholas Helsel, and Jade Devlin, and great-grandchildren Hannah Waite, Melody Jansen, Ady Helsel, John Helsel, Emme Helsel, Isabelle Bosler, and Mason Helsel. She will also be missed by wonderful caretakers Debbi, Kelly, and Julia and her cat “Buddy.” Friends will be received from 2-4, p.m., Sunday at the Serenko-Claar Funeral Home, PC, Portage. Funeral mass will celebrated on Monday at 10 a.m., at Holy Family Parish, Caldwell Ave., Portage; Father Thomas Stabile, TOR, celebrant. Private burial will be at a later date. Online condolences may be at serenkoclaarfuneralhome.com

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