“In the lilt of Irish laughter, you can hear the angels sing”
Roseann M. Helmstetter of Bloomfield, NJ passed away surrounded by family, on Saturday, February 12, 2022 at the age of 83, following a battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Roseann was born on July 23,1938 in Wilkes-Barre, PA to Frank and Jetta Brown (nee Hogan). As a young girl, she moved to Newark, NJ. She graduated from St. Michael’s High School in 1956, and married Frank Helmstetter in 1959.
Prior to her marriage she worked for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in Newark.
Roseann was an active parishioner at St Thomas the Apostle Parish. She was Cub Scout Den Mother for STA Pack 22 and volunteered in numerous activities at the school and church. Roseann proudly baked Irish Soda Bread for the parish’s annual Irish Night for 25 years.
Roseann loved spending time with her family. Every year she and Frank would host Thanksgiving for their extended family. She especially loved her granddaughters. She created a unique song for each granddaughter that she would sing as she would rock them to sleep. Grandma lovingly taught her girls to bake her oatmeal cookies.
Roseann loved travelling; her favorite trip was to visit Ireland on her 50th birthday with husband Frank. She also enjoyed visits to Atlantic City and attending Notre Dame Football games.
Roseann enjoyed spending time with her friends. She remained life-long friends with many of her grammar school and high school friends.
Roseann was preceded in death by Frank Helmstetter, her beloved husband of 62 years, her parents, her brothers Robert Brown and James Brown, and her sisters Margaret Gardner, Ann Noble and Catherine Kuhl, and her son-in-law Peter Cannone.
Roseann is survived by her loving children Thomas (Angela) of Arlington Heights IL, Michael (Marianne) of Ridgewood and Barbara Cannone of Cedar Grove: her 7 cherished granddaughters Mary (James) Hanna of Chicago ,IL, Kathleen Helmstetter and fiancé David Voulgarakis of Palatine, IL, Theresa Cannone of Cedar Grove, Maureen Helmstetter and fiancé Tommy Muth of Mechanicsburg PA, Allison Cannone of Cedar Grove, Margaret Helmstetter of Ridgewood, Bridget Helmstetter of Arlington Heights, IL and great-grandson William Thomas Hanna; sisters-in-law Agnes Harbison, Marguerite Shaffery, and Dorothy Helmstetter and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Wake is Thursday, February 24 from 4-8pm at Halpin-Bitecola Funeral Home, 1284 Broad St, Bloomfield. Funeral Mass will be Friday, February 25 at 9:30am at St Thomas the Apostle Church, Bloomfield. Interment will follow at Immaculate Conception Cemetery.
Memorial donations can be made in Roseann’s name to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or Alzheimer’s Association.
