Helen

Trattou

**In Loving Memory of Helen Trattou**

Helen Trattou, age 90, of Palisades Park, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 28th. Helen was born on December 10, 1933, in the village of Athienou located on the Greek Island of Cyprus. She was known as a very kind, caring, religious and selfless woman who was always interested in how someone else was doing. Her ever famous line when asked how she was doing, despite all the ailments of aging, was always with that big smile "I am doing good for my age, to be around and see all of these beautiful kids".

Helen never complained and was simply grateful for all the experiences her children, their spouses and grandchildren provided her and they all found a way to get "Grandma there". She would always glow describing how one of her grandchildren would just call or stop by, which they did frequently.

Helen was the devoted wife to the late Nicholas (2011) who she followed in the mid-1950's to America via Ellis Island. They immediately began working hard at the American dream while raising their children Mary, Peter (1982), Chris (married to Lori) and Stacy. With some guidance from a few dear cousins in the area , Nick and Helen together purchased a local luncheonette in Union City, which the locals all knew as Nicks Luncheonette.  Helen and Nick created that classic neighborhood store where the owners lived above the store with their children and customers became dear friends of the family while meeting for coffee, famous crollers, eggs, burgers and steaks.

Helen would travel from their new home in Palisades Park in the mid 1960's to their Union City luncheonette by bus five days a week including a 3 mile walk. One could say Helen was today's version of the working mom who cared for her children with all her energy and never tired. Yes as a true Greek mom, we all ate very very well. Mom, Grandma would always be perfectly cutting cantaloupe the moment her children and grandchildren stopped by and she would always say "you look hungry it's  time to eat a little something".  Within ten minutes the table had all sorts of perfectly presented food and fruit on it.

Helen was very involved with her 5 grandchildren and their spouses, Jordan (Cass), Justin (Julianne), Carly (Nick), Alexa (Chris) and Noelle (fiancé Evan), as all 10 of them truly loved "Grandma".  She also knew how blessed she was to have 6 great-grandchildren, Luca, Jay, Tessa, Olivia, Marco and Ty. She would look in their eyes and would treasure the fact that she could see her children's children having their own children, she knew it was very special and she just glowed.

God has decided it was time for Helen, Mom, Momma, Grandma, Grams and GG to come home after an incredible loving life, she will be so missed but absolutely never forgotten.🙏❤️

Services will be held on Friday, August 2 at Ascension Greek Orthodox Church,

101 Anderson Avenue, Fairview, NJ

Visitation 10am - 11am

Mass 11am-12pm

Burial at George Washington Cemetery, Paramus, NJ