Obituary of Helen M Amendola

Helen M. Amendola, 95, formerly of Wilkes-Barre, passed away on Sunday, July 12, 2026, at Wesley Village in Jenkins Township, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Wilkes-Barre, a daughter of the late Errico and Catherine DeGuglielmo Zampetti. Helen was a graduate of G.A.R. Memorial High School, Class of 1948. Early in life, Helen worked at TeleRadio in Wilkes-Barre Township before becoming a homemaker and raising her family. She was a wonderful cook, who expressed her love through food, and her family will always cherish the meals and holiday gatherings she lovingly prepared. Prior to its closure, she was a member of Holy Rosary Church in Wilkes-Barre, and its Sacred Heart & Rosary Society, she enjoyed being with her lady friends making meatballs and preparing for the Church’s annual spaghetti dinner. She was a member of St. Nicholas-St. Mary Parish in Wilkes-Barre. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Joseph F. Amendola in 2004. She was also preceded in death by her infant brother, Anthony Zampetti, by her sister, Antoinette Saraka and by her brother, Ralph Zampetti. Helen is survived by her children, Joseph Amendola and his companion, Veronica Misson, West Wyoming, Nancy Gawlas and her husband, Stephen, Hanover Township, Edward Amendola and his wife, Susan, Kingston, and Sandra Amendola and her husband, David Thompson, Denver, CO ; grandchildren, Stacey Manfre and her husband, Marc, Stephanie Walsh and her husband, Colin, Alyssa Gawlas, Richard Joseph “RJ” Gianficaro and his wife, Molly, Attorney Sarah Amendola, Evan Amendola, Joseph Amendola and his fiancé, Megan Roper, Allison Amendola and her companion, Michael Nealon, Angela Guzman and her husband, Isaiah, and Mia Amendola and her companion, Jack Blobe; great grandchildren, Silas, Sloane and Sienna Walsh; and by her nieces, nephews and cousins. A visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, July 16, 2026, from 5-7 pm at the Nat Gawlas Jordan Funeral Home, 89 Park Avenue, Wilkes-Barre. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, July 17, 2026 at 10 am in St. Nicholas-St. Mary Parish, 226 S. Washington Street, Wilkes-Barre. Those attending the Mass are asked to go directly to the Church on Friday. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hanover Township. Helen loved to feed everyone. The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Helen’s memory to Dinners for Kids, 84 S. Wyoming Avenue, Edwardsville, PA 18704, to help children who may otherwise may go hungry. Condolences may be sent by visiting Helen’s obituary at www.ngjfuneral.com. Helen’s children and family would like to thank the nurses, aides and staff at Wesley Village for the compassionate care that they provided for Helen for the past five years. They would also like to thank the nurses from Hospice of the Sacred Heart for their care in helping Helen to complete her journey to eternal life. A special thank you to mom’s Prospect Street neighbors, who looked after her for so many years.