Helen J. Stipo

Helen J. Stipo nee Schanzenbach of Saddle Brook NJ, formerly of Brigantine and Bogota, went home to be with the Lord on June 3, 2023. Helen was a good and faithful servant and follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, and served her community well. She was a past president of Bogota VFW Post 5561 Ladies Auxiliary, served in the PTA and was very active serving in her church in Brigantine. She was a very social person and loved a good party. She and Dad will be remembered for welcoming so many into their home. Helen had a big, generous, and loving heart. She instilled in us good values, faith in God, and love of family. She modeled strength, perseverance, patience and compassion. She loved the beach, M&M’s, Opera, the NY Yankees, (especially watching Aaron Judge hit home runs!), but her greatest joy was her grandchildren and great grandsons, all of whom she bestowed unending love upon.

Devoted wife to James (1919-2007), beloved mother to Diana (Jim Vargas), Eugene, Julie Kooistra and her husband Kevin, John and his wife Lisa, Mary Pizza and her husband Frank, and Helen Stipo Rehm. Cherished Nanny to Kaela Hartpence and her husband Jason, Sarah Fasano and her husband Ryan, Christopher Pizza and his wife Nikki, Mychal Moore, Katie Kooistra, Lauren Pizza and Jack Dobbs, Alex Kooistra, Bella Rehm and Jonathan Rehm, as well as a loving Great Grandma to Austin Fasano, Hunter Hartpence and Ryder Hartpence. She was a wonderful Aunt to multitudes and good cousin and friend to many. The funeral will leave Petrik Funeral Home, 140 Palisade Avenue, Bogota, Thursday morning at 9:30 for the funeral Mass at St. Joseph's RC Church, Bogota at 10. Interment George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus. Visiting Wednesday 2-4 and 6-8pm. Memorial Contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Disabled American Veterans (DAV).