Helen DeSantis

Helen C. DeSantis, 93, of Newark, passed away peacefully on March 31, 2026. Born in Philadelphia in 1932, Helen will now be reunited with Frank, her husband of 71 years, and her parents, Antoinette and Domenick Lerro; brothers Charlie, Samuel, Anthony, and Robert Lerro, sisters Catherine Thomer, Marie Lounsberry, and Gloria Lee. She is survived by son Frank DeSantis (Rachel), daughters Diane DeSantis (Howard), Cari DeSantis (Ben), Helen Smith (Joe), and Gina Wilson (Kevin), sister-in-law Mary Anne Stabilito (Ray), sister-in-law Carol Lerro and her 12 beloved  grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren who adored their ‘Granny’.

Helen held a lifelong love for reading and was seldom seen without a book in hand. She led the Great Books program at St. Athanasius School in Philadelphia and read books for the blind at Emily Bissell Hospital. She wrote her family history into a book called ‘Bleeding Hearts and Figs’, as her legacy for future generations.  Helen believed strongly in the importance of a good education, and at age 37, Helen entered the University of Delaware. Decades later she attended its Academy of Lifelong Learning. Her favorite subject was Italian.

Once her children started school, Helen began her career as a legal secretary, working for the Bank of Delaware and Hercules, Inc., before launching her administrative services business, Executive Aids. Helen was an early adopter of technology, proudly mastering the first word processor and becoming the first in the family to own a home computer and use email. She delighted in creating her own Pandora stations for Italian music, showtunes and opera. She went on to obtain a real estate license and served as a realtor for Gilpin and Prudential until her retirement.

Helen was revered within the family for her Seven Fishes feast on Christmas Eve. She hosted many parties, welcoming guests into her home like family. She could just as easily make Beef Wellington for her husband’s customers as prepare her regular Sunday pot of ‘gravy’.  

Helen played golf as a member of Cavalier’s Country Club and the Delcastle Women’s 9-hole group. She loved adventures and went whitewater rafting, skiing, horseback riding and climbing pyramids. She hiked into the Grand Canyon for her 70th birthday.

Helen loved the beach, especially having visitors at her Ocean City condo, a popular family getaway for four decades. Her love for travel began when she and Frank took their five children on road trips, pulling a pop-up camper behind the station wagon. Later, the couple traveled overseas, including multiple trips to Italy. Helen collected charms from each destination and often returned with new friends. Through an International Pen-Pal program at the 1964 World’s Fair, Helen developed a treasured sixty-year friendship with an Italian woman, each learning to read and write in each other’s language. They, and their families, visited each other overseas on many occasions. Helen also maintained lifelong friendships with her ‘sorority sisters’ from grade school in Philadelphia. She was well-liked and a good friend to many. Helen loved to tell jokes and had a great sense of humor.

Helen enjoyed and celebrated life to its fullest, and, above all, believed in the love of family. Her generous spirit and encouragement will be greatly missed.

The family would like to express their deep appreciation to Regal Heights, especially Michelle, Rhoda, Nico, Alex, and Jasmyn, for their compassion and attentive care for Helen.

Visitation will be held on Monday, April 13, at St. Anthony of Padua Church, Wilmington, Delaware, from 10-11am. Funeral Mass at 11:00.

Interment will be held privately.

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