Obituary of Helen F. Salerno

Helen Francis Salerno, née Cuccolo, passed away at the age of 99 on Monday, March 27th, 2023, in the presence of her loving family.

Helen was born in Orange, NJ to the late Antonio Cuccolo and Caterina Vitale. She was a consummate hostess, often entertaining her children, grandchildren and very large extended family. She is fondly remembered for the many get-togethers she threw in her backyard in West Orange, NJ, where she raised her five children and lived with her beloved late husband, Andy.

An avid cook, she enjoyed watching the Food Network, and then whipping up her own amazing interpretations in the kitchen- by memory alone!

Helen kept sharp for 90 plus years by doing the Star Ledger crossword and the cryptoquote each morning with her breakfast. She so enjoyed spending time with her girlfriends at “Club”, and looked forward to her Saturday mornings at the hair salon each week.

Helen is predeceased by her husband, Andrew J. Salerno Sr., her sister Mary Cavanaugh, and six brothers: Joseph, Anthony, Samuel, John, Victor, and Carmen Cuccolo and dear friend, Anna Preziosi. She is survived by one sister, Katherine Zeoli of St. Petersburg, FL, and by her five children: Andrew and his wife Denise of Upper Township, NJ, Joseph and his wife Roseann of Vero Beach, FL, Toni and her husband Javier Martinez of Morristown, NJ, Anthony of Galloway Township, NJ, and Jeffrey of Brick, NJ. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Andrew III, Angela, Joseph, Javier, Laura, Emily, Peter, Andrew, Anthony, Diego, Ariana, and Nicholas,16 great grandchildren, many loving nieces and nephews, and her dear friend and caregiver, Elsa Castillo. 

Visitation will be on Tuesday, April 4, from 4-8 PM at Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler Funeral Home, 106 Main St. Madison, NJ. The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 5th, at 10 AM at St. Thomas More RC Church, 4 Convent Rd., Morristown, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations made in Helen’s name to Catholic Charities, https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org, would be greatly appreciated.