- Date Of Birth: September 7, 1925
- Date Of Death: August 3, 2012
- State: New Jersey
Helen Alexander Mesthos, 86, passed away peacefully at the Virtua Rehab Center in Lumberton, NJ Friday August 3, 2012. Helen was the heart of her family and very important to her friends. Born September 7, 1925 on High Street in Burlington to Greek immigrants Steven and Victoria Alexander, she graduated from next-door Burlington City High School in 1943, proud to say that she used the school’s first bell as her alarm clock.
In 1946, Helen met the love of her life, George Mesthos, at his homecoming party from serving as an Army Air Force navigator in the Pacific-but only after she and her sister Georgia pushed the family car down an icy driveway in their high heels. The couple married in April 1947 and moved down the street into Burlington Township when Mt. Holly Road was still a country highway. Helen and her kitchen at her home on Mt. Holly Road became a Burlington institution.
For over six decades she welcomed family, friends and neighbors serving iced tea and delicious home cooking. Helen’s men – George and sons Steven, Peter, Andrew and Philip – were her mission in life. She devoted herself to a warm home full of games, story-telling and holiday cheer. She loved Burlington and she also loved Seaside Park where the family spent many happy summers. She put her own special twist on many things, including being a “Yaya”, spelling her grandmother title based on Wawa stores instead of a strict Greek transliteration. Helen’s sons blessed her with six grandchildren; Marina, Greg, Elena, Doug, George and Andrew. Helen is survived by her grandchildren, adoring sister Georgia, her devoted sons Steven and Philip and her daughters in law Rita, Branka and Patsy.
