Helen Marie Trefry

Helen M. (McDaniel) Trefry, age 99, passed away peacefully at home in Portsmouth, RI Wednesday, June 19, 2024 with her family by her side. Born and raised in Washington, DC the daughter of the late Paul McDaniel and Mary Frances “Mae” (Fitzgerald) McDaniel, resided in Alexandria, VA for 70 years prior to relocating to Portsmouth to live with her family. A graduate of St. Patrick’s Catholic School, Class of 1943, she attended accounting classes at Northern Virginia Community College. In her youth, she worked for Bishop Fulton J. Sheen in Washington, DC and went on to be a Supervisor of the financial office at Fort Belvoir, Virginia for 32 years before her retirement in 1984. In her retirement, she was a Unit Secretary at the former Mount Vernon Hospital in Alexandria, VA. With a thirst first for knowledge, she studied Spanish and computers. She enjoyed playing the piano, being a member of a senior citizen dance group and was a captivating story teller. She is survived by one son, William J. Trefry, Jr. and his wife Patti of North Carolina; two daughters, Gloria Paolantonio of Virginia and Janice Nace and her husband Timothy of Rhode Island; five grandchildren, Bill Trefry, III and his wife Elizabeth, Michael Paolantonio and his wife Tina, Olivia Nace, Haley Nace and Kelly Nace; four great-grandchildren, Christian Paolantonio, Trevor Paolantonio, Ethan Paolantonio, and Grayden Trefry and multiple nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Jerry Gerstner, Kathleen McDaniel, Paul McDaniel, John McDaniel, Anne Morris, and Bill McDaniel and grandmother of the late David Trefry. Visitation will be held on Monday, July 8, 2024 from 4:00PM-7:00PM at Demaine Funeral Home, 520 S. Washigton St, Alexandria, VA 22314. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at 11:00AM at St. Louis Catholic Church, 2907 Popkins Lane, Alexandria, VA 22306; committal service to follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery, 4111 Pennsylvania Ave, Suitland-Silver Hill, MD 20746. Contributions in her honor may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.