Helen Marie Tornetta

Helen Marie (Katein) Tornetta of Jeffersonville, Pa. died January 3, 2025. She was 82.

Helen, a Mont Clare, PA native, was a member of the first four-year class of the former Bishop Kenrick High School in Norristown, PA. She worked as an administrative assistant for several businesses, including General Electric/Lockheed Martin in King of Prussia, PA. She retired as a librarian for Lockheed Martin’s project teams. She had a lifelong love of traveling. She toured the US and countries throughout the world, including Ireland, Spain, Germany, Italy, Austria and Switzerland. Helen played guitar and piano. She was an active member of the music ministry of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Norristown, PA for many years.

Helen was a connector who brought people together. She had a great sense of humor. An awesome cook, she made a mouthwatering manicotti and a gourmet German potato salad. She hosted many extraordinary dinner parties. She treasured Friday lunches with fellow GE/Lockheed Martin retirees at the Valley Forge Volunteer Fire Company. She enjoyed participating in parades and other events as a member of Ladies of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Notre Dame, Division 1 in Bridgeport, PA.

She was an avid Eagles and Notre Dame fan.

Helen so loved attending monthly (McCabe) Cousins Club get-togethers with her sisters and cousins that well after they’d all raised their children, she suggested the then grandmothers and great grandmothers have an annual sleep over – of course, in her home.

Helen was blessed with many friends throughout her life, including her longest friendships with Patti, Angela, Janet and Janie, whom she met at St. Ann’s Grade School in Phoenixville, PA. Too many to name here, but each special in a unique way, were the friendships she made throughout and in her last year of life.

Helen beat breast cancer as a young widow, and navigated Parkinson’s Disease and other health issues later in life. She was the 24/7, primary caregiver for her mother-in-law, a person with quadriplegia.

She was predeceased by her husband, Anthony Charles Tornetta in 1987; her parents, Carl and Catherine (McCabe) Katein and her dear older sisters, Kathleen Steube and Margaret Schell.

Helen is survived by her children, Jennifer Tornetta and her fiancé Donald McGee of Galloway, NJ; Meg and her husband Dr. Michael Falk of Marlton, NJ; Tony and his partner Kathie Gensert, of Norristown; and Katie and her husband Kevin Walsh, of Norristown. She was a proud grandmother of eight: Anthony Tornetta; Madeline, Daniel and Jessica Walsh; Samantha (and David) Hicks and Patrick, Kassy and Shea Gerhard. She's also survived by her cherished nieces and nephews.

Services will be Friday, January 10 at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Norristown. Visitation begins at 10 AM, followed by Mass at noon. Burial will be at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Norristown.

In lieu of sending flowers, Helen would have wanted you to make a phone call to, take to lunch, share a laugh with, or do a dance with a friend or family member. Donations may be made in memory of Helen Marie Tornetta to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Grand Central Station, PO Box 4777, NY, NY, 10163 or online at michaeljfox.org.

Arrangements are by the Szpindor-Meyers Funeral Home.