- Date Of Birth: October 26, 1919
- Date Of Death: May 21, 2010
- State: Massachusetts
Helen Natalie (Hoilo) Balkus joined her late husband John on Friday May 21, 2010 at 6:12 AM at age 90. Helen passed away at Kingsway Arms Nursing Home in Schenectady, New York where she resided for the last four years. Helen was born in Newton, Mass. on October 26, 1919. Her parents are the late John and Augusta (Breitenbach) Hoilo. She was a lifelong resident of Newton until moving to New York. She was a graduate of Newton High School class of 1937. Helen worked at Sherman Paper Products before being married and starting her family. When her children were older, she went to work for the F. W. Woolworth Corp. in Newton Highlands and Needham. She worked for them for 25 years. Throughout her life Helen was involved in church and was a den mother for her son’s cub scout troop.
Helen is a charter member of The Lutheran Church of the Newtons. She served on the alter guild, ladies guild and was a Sunday School teacher.
She leaves to mourn her passing her daughters Barbara Balkus Sgroi, Albany, NY. and Karen Gladding-Beall, Fontana, CA. Her grandson David Sgroi, Albany NY and granddaughters Susan Griffin, Scotia, NY, Tamra Bachman, Redlands, CA.; Tabitha Abe, Chula Vista, CA.; Kimberley and Amy Balkus, Holliston, MA.; and Sheri Elwell, Ashland, MA. She has 6 greatchildren: John and Jeremy Griffin, NY.; Taylor and Tara Gladding, Marquette, KS.; Brodie Bachman, CA.; Samantha
Elwell, MA.; and also twins Kyla and Lincoln due in July in CA. Helen also leaves a sister Gloria Leite of Milford, MA., along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents John and Augusta, her high school sweetheart and husband, the love of her life to whom she was married for 65 years, John, her son John K. (Kenny), her grandson Timothy Gladding, and her sister Elsie Cavazza and her brother John Hoilo.
