Helene W. Cattani Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Helene W. Cattani, 100, of Old Bridge, NJ, passed away on Friday, February 26, 2021, at the JFK Medical Center in Edison, NJ. Helene was born on April 18, 1920, to William Arthur Wiggs and Nancy Elizabeth Hawley Wiggs, in Rocky Mount, NC. Helene and her family worshiped at the First Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, and she attended the Edgemont School. Her family farmed tobacco and cotton. Throughout her childhood, Helene helped out on the family farm. At 18 years old, she began studying nursing at the Park View Hospital in Rocky Mount. Just as she finished nursing school, Pearl Harbor was attacked. Her younger brother was stationed there on the USS Maryland. At that moment, Helene made the decision to serve her country. On March 10, 1943, Helene enlisted as an Army Nurse at Camp Davis, NC. She was transferred to 237th Hospital and was sent to France. With WW2 France as the backdrop, in a "movie worthy" romance, Helene met her husband Albert, a New Yorker. They met when they were both stationed in Metz and married on April 21,1946. They had been married 39.5 years at the time of Albert's death in 1985 and had five children together. In addition to being a wonderful home-maker, mother and nurse, Helene was passionate about supporting veterans, especially proud of women vets. For decades, she volunteered at both the Paramus and Menlo Park Veteran's Homes in NJ. She was an active volunteer up until 99 years old. Then Covid stopped the volunteer activities at the VA. Helene was preceded in death by her loving husband, Albert, her brother, Arthur Morris, her sister Lib Respess, her son-in-law Bob Christian, her grandson Jeff and granddaughter Pauline. Helene is survived by her loving family - son, Albert Cattani and his wife Barbara; four daughters, Nancy and husband Anthony Chalela, Margaret and husband Tom Zmigrodski, Mary Christian, and Celia Cattani; eight grandchildren (Ben, David, Michael, Scott, Paula, Karen, Vincent and Aqualine), thirteen great grandchildren, and one great-great grandson. Due to Covid, services below will be limited to family members only. A Celebration of Life Memorial will be scheduled once Covid restrictions have been relaxed. Family Visitation will be held Monday, March 15, 2021, 8:30 AM-10:00 AM, at Old Bridge Funeral Home, 2350 CR 516, Old Bridge, NJ. 08857 A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, March 15, 2021, at St. Ambrose Church, 96 Throckmorton Lane, Old Bridge, NJ. Entombment will follow in the Garden of Memories Cemetery, Washington Township, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Helene Cattani to the Menlo Park Veteran's Home in Edison NJ (https://www.nj.gov/military/veterans/memorial-homes/menlo-park/documents/monetary-donation-form.pdf) VA Contact is Christine Caratozzolo 732-452-4258.

Helene W. Cattani

April 18, 1920 - February 26, 2021