Helen C. Steimle, 100, passed peacefully to rest at her home on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, surrounded by the care and love of her family.
Helen led a fascinating and full life. A second-generation Polish-American, she was born in Jersey City in 1917. In 1942, Helen moved to Seattle, married her military husband, and like many women of that wartime era worked for the defense industry during WWII. She traveled extensively as an army wife, first to California, then to Germany and later to Ethiopia. That travel to foreign countries and cultures enriched the family experience and created lasting memories.
Helen was employed for many years by Bamberger’s, then Macy’s until her retirement. A longtime resident of Oceanport, she lived to the end as she wished in her beloved Oceanport home since 1956. Helen was an avid gardener, an active member of the Oceanport Democratic Club and Oceanport Seniors. She volunteered at Monmouth Medical Center, was an extremely active woman of faith, and a communicant of Saint Dorothea’s Church in Eatontown. Helen’s age never slowed her down. She always found time to adventure and travel for pleasure throughout the world, and later in life, she bowled well into her 90s at the Fort Monmouth Bowling Center.
Helen was the beloved matriarch of the Steimle family. As a survivor of the Great Depression, she was an inspiring role model to her offspring. Helen gave us our common sense, endurance, and love of family and country. She had many friends, always made herself available to help someone in need, and welcomed everyone into her home.
Helen is predeceased by her husband, Frank Steimle, Sr.; her sister, Sophie Abbruzzese and brother, Matthew Sikel.
She is survived by her two sons and a daughter and their spouses, Frank and Claire Steimle (Wanamassa, NJ), Richard and Christine Steimle (Hayes, VA) and Suellen and Steven Fromm (Locust, NJ), as well as six grandchildren, Jason Steimle, Eric Steimle, Jeffrey Fromm, Stephanie Earley, Andrew Craig, and Jennifer Arkley, and ten great-grandchildren, as well as nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. The family is extremely grateful to her loving caregivers, Patty, Nana, and Irene, as well as the VITAS Hospice Care.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit from 3-7 pm Sunday at the Fiore Funeral Home, 882 Broadway, West Long Branch. Funeral Mass will be offered at 10 am Monday at St. Dorothea’s Roman Catholic Church in Eatontown. Burial will follow at Monmouth Memorial Park in Tinton Falls. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to the Eatontown SPCA. For condolences, please visitwww.fiorefuneralhomes.com.