Helen (Golden) Vandzura

Vandzura – Helen, 97, of Portage, died February 1, 2018, at Forest Hills Personal Care Home, Sidman, PA. Born July 28, 1920, in Wilmore, daughter of John and Catherine (Jagiella) Golden.  Proceeded in death by parents and her loving husband of 54 years,  Andrew “Andy” Vandzura, son Leonard; sisters: Mary Sheldock, Rella Druist, Anna Lacko, Nellie Branas, Victoria Hannakan, Rose Yurchik, Sophia Ziegler; brothers: Frank, Mike, Stanley, Joseph, Anthony Golden and  Son-In-Law John Miller.  Survived by these children:  Andrew, Lewistown, PA, Raymond, Portage, PA, Barbara Miller, Everett, Washington and Lucine wife of William Alex, Tionesta, PA. Daughters-In- Law: Elizabeth Ann Vandzura, Greensboro, NC, Jean Vandzura, Reading PA, and Paulette Vandzura, Portage.  She is currently blessed with 11 grandchildren: Mark (Gina), Matthew (Karen), Daniel (Jan), Rebecca (Billy Camden) Vandzura; Amie, Laura Vandzura; Marcia (Vince Cumming) Vandzura; James Miller; Luke (Brittany), Joel (Lauren), Brittany (Seth Reighard) Alex. Great-grandchildren include: Zac, Josh, Sam and Hannah Vandzura; Hart and Elle Vandzura; Patrick, Sarah, Jonah and Joshua Camden; Catcher, Kaite and Parker Cumming; Maya and Chase Alex; Zander and Zoe Miller. Helen was the last surviving member of the Golden family.  She was first employed in 1935 at the Corner Room in State College, PA. and later at the Holiday Restaurant in Portage. Helen and her husband, Andy, owned and operated a Christmas Tree Farm for 20 plus years.  Helen would spend many long hours, planting, trimming and harvesting Christmas trees for the residents of the Portage Area. Along with the tree farm, Helen worked with her sister Rose Yurchik as custodians for Sacred Heart and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church both in Portage.  She cooked for weddings, church picnics and funerals and was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Society, Third Order of Secular Franciscans and a Wednesday morning prayer group. She was a person of great faith in our Lord and was very prayerful, saying a long list of prayers daily including the rosary. She had a special devotion to the Blessed Mother.  After Church and family, her second love was working with chocolate and making candy for family and friends. She shared her knowledge and talent of candy making with children, grandchildren and nieces.  From this love sprang two family candy businesses. The Vandzura Family would like to thank the staff of the Forest Hills Personal Care Home and Asera Care Hospice for their loving care of Helen during her stay. Friends received from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Sunday, February 4, 2018, at Serenko-Claar Funeral Home, PC Portage.  Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, February 5, 2018, at Holy Family Parish, Portage, Father Andrew Draper, TOR celebrant. Committal alongside her husband in the St. Mary’s Cemetery, Portage. Family suggests memorial contribution be made to the Portage Volunteer Fire Company. 

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