Obituary of Helen Mae Hanna

Helen Mae Hanna, of Tobyhanna, died Saturday, October 18, 2014. Her family surrounded her in her final days at the VNA Hospice of Monroe County in East Stroudsburg. Helen was 66 years old. Helen was born on October 6, 1948 in Providence, Rhode Island to Anne (Cherno) Armata and the late Edward Armata. She spent her childhood and early adult years happily with family and close friends, loved attending school and placed great emphasis on learning and education for everyone throughout her life. In 1970, Helen graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in Zoology. A proud and accomplished woman, Helen held a number of positions throughout her career at the Veteran’s Hospital in West Haven, CT, later in a family business in Union City, NJ, and, after moving to the Poconos, at Model Expo in the Mt Pocono Business Park and Instrument Specialties (Laird Technologies) in Delaware Water Gap. Most recently, Helen worked with her husband as a Real Estate Closing Agent at Pocono Area Abstract Company in Blakeslee. She dedicated her life to raising her family and to be a supportive daughter, mother, grandmother and sister, as well as a devoted wife to her husband of 21 years, Jerry Hanna. She was happiest visiting with family, watching her grandchildren play sports, listening to live music, playing cards with her mother and going for long drives with the occasional pit stop at a local casino. She also enjoyed traveling, both preparing and having a good meal, entertaining, reading mystery books, watching golf on TV and attending boxing events. She cherished her weekly phone chats with her children and mother. Helen will be very much missed by her family, friends and loved ones. In addition to her husband, Jerry, she is survived by her daughter, Melissa Liberty and her husband, Robert; a son, Andres Gomez; stepsons: Dan Hanna and his wife, Elise, and Ric Hanna and his wife, Carole Turcotte- Hanna; six grandchildren; her mother, Anne Armata; a sister, Nancy Cordeiro and her husband, Manuel, Jr.; nieces: Melaney Matteson and Melinda LaFlamme; a nephew, Manuel A. Cordeiro; two great-nephews; a great-niece; and her mother-in-law, Elaine Hanna. She was preceded in death by her father, Edward J. Armata and her father-in-law, Gerald Hanna. A private family gathering will be held for Helen to celebrate her life and share treasured memories. Memorial donations can be made to the Melanoma Research Foundation or to the VNA Hospice House of Monroe County in Helen’s memory.