Obituaries

Helen M. (Roche) Costa, age 93, formerly of Dalton, Clarks Green and West Scranton, passed away Sunday evening April 28th at Green Ridge Health Care Center in Scranton. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 27 years, Lawrence (Larry) F. Costa, on January 26, 2007.

Born in West Scranton on March 14, 1926, and daughter of the late Joseph and Amelia Garcia Roche, Helen was a graduate of the former St. Patrick’s High School in West Scranton. Upon graduation, she worked for the family business, Roche’s Grocery Store in West Scranton. Later, she worked in the payroll department of Lackawanna Optical, the business she and her former husband Robert W. Scott owned in Scranton. She ultimately retired from the labratory department of Lackawanna Medical Group, also in Scranton. Helen was a longtime member of St. Patrick’s Church in West Scranton.

In addition to cooking, Helen enjoyed backyard cookouts, dining out with family and friends, playing Scrabble, and traveling with Larry. Their adventures included flying to various destinations such as Antigua, Mexico, Bermuda and the New England states in their co-owned Cessna. Helen adored animals, especially her grand-pup Hailey, yet nothing gave her more joy than being with her family. She will be forever missed.

She is survived by her two daughters, Patricia Scott Butchko and husband Robert of Clarks Summit and Susan Scott Vandermark and husband William of Cinnaminson, New Jersey; four grandchildren, Kristen Butchko, Jason Butchko and wife Nina, Alicia Elliott and husband E.J. and Tiffany Vandermark; eight great-grandchildren, Andreas, Hendrik, Ryan, Taylor, Jake, Brooke, Kelsey and Avery; and nieces Mary Haag, Anne Roche and nephew Paul Roche.

She was preceded in death by brothers, Gerard Roche, on September 1st 2018, and infant, Joseph.

Her family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the entire staff of Green Ridge Health Care Center, Dr. and family friend Frank Milani and Dr. Nicholas Dodge; and to Helen’s dear friend, Wilma Glasgow, for their collective kindness, care and compassion to both Helen and her family throughout the years.

A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Saturday at 11:00AM at St. Patrick’s Church, 1403 Jackson Street in Scranton, to be celebrated by Rev. Richard Fox, Pastor, with a homily by Deacon Joseph Donovan, cousin. Burial will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Scranton.

Those wishing to attend the funeral are asked to go directly to the church. Relatives and friends may pay their respects on Saturday from 10:00AM until Mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Helen’s name to either Griffin Pond Animal Shelter c/o 967 Griffin Pond Road, South Abington Township, PA 18411 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN. 38105.

Arrangements are under the care of the Kevin K. Kearney Funeral Home, Inc., 125 North Main Avenue, Scranton.