Helen Cardenuto

Helen Cardenuto graciously entered into the open arms of her Lord and Savior on Friday, August 5, 2016, spending her final moments surrounded by her family.
She was born in 1925 in New York. Known to many family and friends as "Gram," she will be remembered as a faithful and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.
Helen led a life full of service and accomplishment. After her father passed away in the 1940's, she worked full-time overnight for the railroad to support her mother, and attended college full-time during the day. She graduated from the University of Buffalo in 1950 with her bachelor's degree and began a 38-year teaching career.
She married Joseph Cardenuto in 1951 and moved to State College, PA, for his position at Penn State University. Helen received her Master's degree in Education from Penn State in 1955, then taught for the State College Area School District for most of her teaching career, touching the lives of countless children.
After their retirement, Helen and Joe moved to Orlando, FL in 1988. Helen was very active in numerous community service activities throughout her life, and she immediately became involved with her new community, participating in West Orange Women's club, the Welcome Wagon, Sunshine Singers, and Holy Family Church. Helen moved to Celebration, FL in 1996 and was very proud to call Celebration home. She was active with the Celebrators, the Celebration Foundation and Thriving in Place, and Corpus Christi Catholic Church.
Helen is preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Cardenuto and is survived by her daughters Linda, Laurie and husband Terry, Annette and husband Roger, Mary and husband John. She is also survived by her brother John, grandchildren Sarah and husband Philip, Marinna and husband Milo, Leah, Amanda, Cody, Jared and Tayler. She is also survived by great-grandchildren Evan and Norah, and Flora.
A Funeral Mass to celebrate Helen's life will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 20, 2016 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Celebration, FL. Helen will be laid to rest in a private ceremony in State College, PA at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Corpus Christi Catholic Church Building Fund, Joseph R. and Helen G. Cardenuto Award at Penn State University*, or The Celebration Foundation (designated to the Thriving in Place program), would honor Helen.
Throughout her life, Helen was a strong, independent woman with a generous heart and an educator's spirit. We will miss you terribly, Gram, but are comforted in knowing that you have found peace and comfort in the eternal presence of our Lord.

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