Helen T. Yorkgitis

Helen T. Yorkgitis, age 85, most recently of Jefferson City, formerly of Pittsburgh, Pa., passed away Friday, January 28, 2011, at St. Mary's Health Center in Jefferson City. She was born Helen Therese Barczauskas (later Barsauskas) on October 15, 1925 in Pittsburgh, Pa., the daughter of Joseph J. and Petronella Barczauskas, who had emigrated from Lithuania around 1910. She attended St. Casimir Grade School through the eighth grade and graduated from South High School of Pittsburgh in 1943. Until 1952, she worked as a stenographer at Rosenbaum's Department Store, the Veterans Administration, and the Central Experiment Station of the Bureau of Mines, U.S. Department of the Interior, all in Pittsburgh, Pa. In 1951, Helen met Edward A. Yorkgitis at West View Park's Danceland, and they were married at St. Casimir Church in Pittsburgh, Pa. on June 28, 1952. In 1954, they settled in Whitehall Borough, a Pittsburgh suburb. Helen loved all things colonial and related to pioneer life, and many family trips centered around historic and rural locales, two favorites being Williamsburg, Va. and Pennsylvania Dutch Country. She collected baskets, plates, milk glass, and purses. Over many years she especially enjoyed the gatherings of a canasta club she had founded in 1948. Helen read the children's novels by Laura Ingalls Wilder as a girl and in her lifetime visited nearly all of the sites connected to the Wilder family including Pepin, Wis., Mansfield, Mo., DeSmet, S.D., and Walnut Grove, Minn. For over 50 years, Helen and Ed were active parishioners of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church in Pleasant Hills, Pa. where Helen was an active member of the Altar Society, Women's Club, and with her husband, St. Elizabeth Senior Citizens. In 2007, Helen and Ed relocated to Jefferson City and lived at Heisinger Bluffs, where Ed still resides. Helen was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Joseph; and sister, Anne Ligetti. She bore the great sadness of the deaths of her two elder daughters, Susan in 1992 and Marianne (Mimi) Carl in 2004. In addition to her husband, Ed, Helen is survived by her son David, his wife Mary Kay, and their children, David, Teresa, Regina Helen, Joseph, Catherine, and Margaret Mary of Basking Ridge, N.J.; son-in-law, Scott Carl of Millersburg, Pa. and his daughter Erin; daughter, Elaine and her husband Ken Nimmer of Saint Paul, Minn.; son, Chip his wife Carol, and their children, Matthew, Stephen, and Patrick, of Millersville, Md.; daughter, Lisa her husband Jim Nahach, and their children, Suzette, Timothy, and Elizabeth Rose of Jefferson City; and many well-loved nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held in the chapel at Heisinger Bluffs LSS Center, 1024 W. Main St., Jefferson City, at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, March 4, 2011. Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Elizabeth Church on February 3, 2011, followed by interment at St. Casimir Cemetery in Bethel Park, Pa. If desired, the family suggests contributions to The Heisinger Bluffs Auxiliary, c/o Heisinger Bluffs LSS Center, 1024 W. Main St., Jefferson City, MO 65109; or American Heart Association, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15235. Please send condolences to www.johnfslater.com.