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The Life of HELEN MAE FONTANA

Our beloved mother, grandmother, auntie and friend, Helen Mae Fontana, 97, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones and many prayers on December 14, 2016 at the Hospice of the Hills house in Harrison, Arkansas.

Helen was born to Pete and Frances Yanschek on November 24, 1919 in Des Moines, Iowa. She grew up in Carney, Iowa and graduated from Woodside High School in Des Moines, Iowa in 1939. On September 1, 1940, she married Dominic R. Fontana, they shared 59 years together until his passing in 1999. Dominic and Helen farmed together while raising their 3 boys. Dominic worked for and retired from John Deere Des Moines Works. Dominic and Helen owned and operated Dominic’s Place in Enterprise, Iowa for over 25 years, where Helen was the cook, and well-known for the best fried chicken and spaghetti.

Helen’s favorite pastimes all her life was first, working hard, then second, keeping a daily journal of all her activities and observations since she was a child. She intertwined scrapbooking with her journals, by putting stickers on each page, as well as pictures she cut from magazines. Family was most important to her. She loved to fly, and travel to spend time with all her family, from Iowa to Arkansas, Minnesota, Texas, Connecticut, Mississippi and Alabama. She loved to fish, take rides through the country, visit and share stories with everyone, feed and watch birds, her squirrels “Charlie”, deer and all other wildlife (including the grandchildren), work jigsaw puzzles, word searches and play solitaire.

Helen is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Richard P. (Maureen) Fontana of Cook, Minnesota and Dominic J. (Judi) Fontana Jr. of Everton, Arkansas; her three nieces, Frances Losee (Denny) of Des Moines, Iowa, Betty Abell of Biloxi, Mississippi, Jodie Miller (Ken) of Des Moines, Iowa; her grandchildren LuAnn Fontana (Steve Vaiana) of Ansonia, Connecticut, Patty Barnholt (Steve) of Arlington, Texas, Maria Fontana of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Anthony (Tony) Fontana of Urbana, Illinois, Rocky Fontana (Erika) of West Des Moines, Iowa, and Tanya Thomas (Bryan) of Adel, Iowa; fifteen great-grandchildren; six great-great grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Pete and Frances Yanschek; her husband, Dominic R. Fontana; her oldest son, Pete L. Fontana and his wife, Nancy; her loving sister, Marie (Mimi) Smith and her husband, Jim and a twin sister who died at birth.
Visitation is Sunday, December 18th from 4-6 p.m. at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave., Des Moines, Iowa. Funeral services are at 10 a.m. Monday, December 19, 2016, also at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens in Des Moines, Iowa. Helen will be laid to rest beside her husband, Dominic, in the Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery. Following the internment, everyone is invited to share stories during a luncheon at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens.

Everyone is encouraged to attend and join in the celebration of Helen’s life. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Cancer Society, the Hospice of the Hills (501 E Sherman Avenue, Harrison, AR 72601) or a charity of your choice.

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