Helen J. Otremba

Helen J. (Nosek) Otremba, 92, of Hamden and former long-time resident of Bridgeport, passed away peacefully on July 16, 2018 at Masonicare. She was the loving and devoted wife of 70 years of Edward T. Otremba, Sr. Helen was born on March 10, 1926 in Brooklyn, NY, daughter of the late Kazimierz and Marya Nosek. She was a graduate of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, earning her degree in Home Economics. Helen was very artistic and creative, excelling in needlework, quilting, crafts, painting, ceramics and stained glass design. She was also a clothing designer and seamstress extraordinaire. She used her skills and passion for knitting by making numerous baby hats for the Preemie Unit at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Helen was a member of the Knitting Club at Atria Larson Place and taught sewing classes for the City of Bridgeport Adult Education. She was a wonderful wife, mother, sister and homemaker as well as a talented cook and baker. Earlier in life, Helen was involved with the Bridgeport Republicans and was a former president of the St. Andrew's Rosary Confraternity. Along with her husband Edward, Helen is survived by her children Edward T. Otremba, Jr. of Hamden, Christine Ben and her husband George of Stuart, FL, Mary Ellen Graham and her husband Ron Rivard of Madison, and Cathy (Kurzbacher) DellaValle and her husband Michael of North Haven; grandchildren Liz and Margaret Graham, Michael Ben and Kristen Clancy, Michael, Matthew and Joseph DellaValle, and Kallian, Marley, and Elizabeth Rivard; great-grandchildren Dmitri and Henrik Ben, and Finn Clancy; and many loving nieces and nephews. Helen was predeceased by her son-in-law William Kurzbacher, Jr., grandson William Kurzbacher III; and siblings Thaddeus and Stanley Nosek, and Sophie Piekarski. Relatives and friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial for Helen on Saturday, July 21, 2018 at 9:45 AM at St. Rita Church, 1620 Whitney Ave., Hamden. Everyone is asked to meet directly at the church. Burial will be private. Beecher & Bennett, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden is assisting with the arrangements. Memorial donations in Helen's name may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.