June 25, 1920 - October 26, 2018

Helen Jane Gregorio, 98, was born on June 25, 1920 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, an only child to Charles Peters and Mary Rhodes. She passed peacefully at her home on Friday, October 26, 2018 in Downey, California.

Over the 60 years she lived in Downey, Helen was a dedicated and devoted church and community volunteer. She served at the Downey Family YMCA and also in countless roles in PTA – including helping in the Downey Council PTA HELPS food bank over the past 30 years it’s been in operation. In addition to PTA, Helen logged over 40,000 hours of service in virtually every Auxiliary role in the 32 years she served at Downey-PIH. In addition to her community service, she also spent countless hours in ministry at Christ Lutheran Church here in Downey by singing in the choir, setting up for communion, greeting, ushering, and doing whatever else was needed. Her time and dedication to blessing others was acknowledged with both Rotary Club and Downey Coordinating Council Outstanding Volunteer Awards.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Angelo, and leaves behind her loving family: son James Edwards (Peggy) and granddaughters Sandy Edwards and Lisa Prough of Paso Robles, California; son Charles Gregorio (Melody) of Downey, California, granddaughter Emily Gregorio of Los Angeles, California, and grandson Evan Gregorio of Downey, California, as well as several other family members and friends who loved her and will miss her dearly.

A service to celebrate Helen’s life will be held at Christ Lutheran Church (7707 Florence Avenue, Downey) on Friday, November 16th, at 10:00 AM. A light lunch will be served at the church Fellowship Hall following the internment at Rose Hills. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Downey Council PTA HELPS or Downey Family YMCA.