Helen J. Garofalo

A lifelong Danbury resident, Helen was the daughter of the late Charles and Elizabeth Benyenski Sabo. She attended and graduated from St. Peter School in Danbury in 1937.

As a young girl, Helen enjoyed ice skating, swimming and boating; she loved to spend time outdoors.

In her early years during WWII, Helen was a telephone operator as well as an employee in the hatting industry and Barden Corp. Inspired by a great sense of style, Helen was the owner and proprietor of Helen’s Fashions located on White St. in Danbury.

A lifelong member of St. Peter Church and very active in the Ladies Guild, she was instrumental in establishing a free dental clinic located at St. Peter School. Helen was also an active volunteer with the American Cancer Society, and worked to educate others through service and rehabilitation. A lover of animals, she was also a volunteer with D.A.W.S.

Helen enjoyed gardening, entertaining, puzzles, and playing competitive bridge. However; most of all, she loved to be with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren at her Washington Avenue home, where she lived for over 65 years. An avid golfer, Helen was a member of the Ladies Wamego Golf League, Candlewood Valley and Richter Park Ladies Golf Leagues. Oil painting was one of her many passions and her family continues to enjoy her artwork, which they proudly have displayed in their homes.

Besides her husband and parents, Helen was predeceased by her son, Paul (Chip) Garofalo, Jr; and her siblings: Peter, Paul and Joseph Sabo and Mary Knauer. Survivors include her children: James Garofalo and his wife, Kathleen, of Florida and Beth Donofrio of Danbury. Her grandchildren: Gina Dennehy, Anna Nowak, Jennifer Garofalo, Tina Garofalo, Marybeth D’Amico, Elizabeth Donofrio and Emily Donofrio. Her great grandchildren: Gillian, JP, Gabrielle, Ethan, Benjamin, Clara, James, Elemiah and Jeremiah. Many nieces and nephews also survive.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30am on Friday, Jan. 19, 2018 at St. Peter Church, Danbury. Burial will follow in Wooster Cemetery, Danbury. Friends will be received from 4pm-7pm on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury, CT 06810.

Contributions in Helen’s memory may be made to D.A.W.S., 147 Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801 or to the charity of one’s choice.