Helen M Ferraro

Rotterdam - The Ferraro family is thankful for the life of our beloved mother and grandmother, Helen M. Ferraro, who passed from this world to Eternal Life on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 at the age of 95. She passed peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family. She was the daughter of the late Helen and Louis Pfaffenbach. She was predeceased by her husband of 51 years, Frank J. Ferraro. She was also predeceased by her siblings: Louis Pfaffenbach, Raymond Pfaffenbach, Marie Kopps, and Ronald Pfaffenbach. She is survived by her four children, Barbara (Roy) Bergeron, Catherine (Bob) Haggerty, Frank (Margaret) Ferraro, and Janet (Joseph) Mastroianni. She has twelve grandchildren: David (Jodi) Bergeron, Diedre (Mark) Cavin, Susan (Greg) Child, Patrick Haggerty, Jennifer Ferraro, Melissa (Adam) Wolfe, Jonathan (Olga) Ferraro, Brian Ferraro, Joseph C. Mastroianni, Thomas (Catherine) Mastroianni, Megan Mastroianni, and Michael Mastroianni. She was also proud to have fourteen great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Marion Ferraro. Helen was a lifelong resident of Schenectady and was a graduate of Draper High School. She married her husband Frank at 19 years old and was a committed wife and mother, raising her family in a loving and giving environment. She was humble in spirit and always put her family first. She spent many happy summer days at the camp at Caroga Lake with frequent visits from her grandchildren, family, friends, and neighbors. Later in life she worked as a teacher’s aide at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School. She was also active in the Schenectady Democratic Women's Club and was one of the oldest members. She was a parishioner of St. Gabriel’s Church in Rotterdam and more recently attended Our Lady Queen of Peace. She was a strong woman in mind, body, and spirit and was a great example of love and resolve. She had a quick wit and feisty sense of humor, and was always a joy to be around. She will be missed and remembered dearly. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Reverend Vincent Ciotoli on Monday, November 28, 2016 at 9:30am at Our Lady Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church, 210 Princetown Road, Rotterdam. Interment will immediately follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, 100 Kings Road, Schenectady. The family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday from 4:00 - 6:00 at DeMarco Stone Funeral Home, 1605 Helderberg Avenue, Rotterdam. In the spirit of the season, performing an act of kindness and generosity would be a fitting way to celebrate the life and spirit of our beloved Helen.