Obituary of Helen S. DiStasio

Middlebury  – Helen S. (Rykowski) DiStasio, 93, of Middlebury, passed away peacefully Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at The Lutheran Home of Southbury surrounded by her family. She was the widow of Vincent P. “Jake” DiStasio. Mrs. DiStasio was born February 4, 1926, in Newark, NJ, daughter of the late Anthony and Helen (Kwasnieska) Rykowski.

First and foremost she was a homemaker dedicated to her family. She had worked at Uniroyal and Airpax. She enjoyed taking rides in the country, cooking and baking for her family, listening to polka and country music, and spending time with family and friends at Woodridge Lake in Goshen.  She was a communicant of The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church.

She leaves four sons, Joseph J. DiStasio and his wife Linda of Woodbury, Vincent R. DiStasio and his wife Donna of Watertown, Thomas DiStasio and his wife Sheila of Watertown, and Paul DiStasio of Waterbury; seven grandchildren Tracey Rado and her husband Keith, Jason DiStasio and his wife Cristina, Thomas DiStasio and his wife Haley, Tara DiStasio, James DiStasio, Joseph DiStasio and Matthew DiStasio; three great grandchildren Taylor Rado, Keith Rado and Emmaline DiStasio; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her three daughters Donna M. Mazzamauro, Mary Anne Danielczuk and  infant Helen T. DiStasio; seven brothers Benjamin, Stephen, Theodore, Edward, Henry, Stanley and Anthony; three sisters Marion Bennard, Clara Cote and Theresa Hoppe.

The family would like to thank the staff of Griswold Home Care, Apple Rehab and particularly The Lutheran Home of Southbury.  Special thanks go to Helen’s personal homecare companions Elizabeth Hemingway and Svelta “Angie” Shillingford.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 am on Thursday , September 5, 2019 at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception,  74 West Main St., Waterbury.  Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery  2324 East Main St., Waterbury.  Calling hours will be from 5 pm to 8 pm on Wednesday September 4, 2019 at the Prospect Memorial Funeral Home, 72 Waterbury Rd., Prospect.

Contributions:  St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN  38105.