Helen was born in Oyster Bay on Aug. 6, 1919, the third of eight children of Cosmo and Angelina Sordi. She grew up in the family home, above the grocery store that counted among its clients the Theodore Roosevelt family of nearby Sagamore Hill. Helen attended Saint Dominic’s School in Oyster Bay, where she graduated from high school in 1937.
Graduating from Marywood College in 1941, Helen worked variously as a hospital dietician and high school Home Economics teacher before marrying Dr. Michael Cavuoti on Oct. 7, 1950. Michael was an old school family practitioner, with his office occupying a wing of their home in Glen Cove. For the next 42 years Helen worked as the office administrator and bookkeeper for Dr Mike’s practice while raising their daughter, Thomasina.
In 1992, Michael and Helen moved to Port Orchard, WA to be near their daughter and her family. Following a long established pattern of community involvement they volunteered as reading mentors at East Port Orchard Elementary, being selected for Apple Awards as Outstanding Volunteers in 1996.
With Mike’s passing in 2006, Helen directed her social and goodwill efforts toward being active in St. Gabriel’s parish in Port Orchard. There was nothing she looked forward to as much as lunches with her many friends from St. Gabe’s following week-day masses.
Helen passed away on Dec. 23, 2014, at Ridgemont Terrace in Port Orchard, following a stroke she suffered in early November. She leaves behind her daughter and son-in-law, Thomasina and Chuck Sacrison of Port Orchard, granddaughter Kate (husband Joe Clem) of Portland, OR and grandson Doug of Port Orchard and numerous nieces and nephews. The family is especially appreciative of the friendship and care she received at Stafford Suites and then Ridgemont Terrance in Port Orchard when she finally had to move out of her own home last summer, just short of her 95th birthday.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Gabriel’s in Port Orchard at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, with inurnment of ashes at Sunset Memorial Cemetery following. Donations can be made to the American Heart Association, St. Gabriel’s Church or a charity of the donor’s choice in memory of Helen.
Arrangements through Rill Funeral Chapel, Port Orchard, WA, www.rill.com.
