Helen Matilda (Sformo) de Jongh

Helen Matilda de Jongh, daughter of James Premiano Sformo and Florence Viola Falkowski, was born on February 1, 1928, in Batavia, New York, and passed from this life on July 6, 2023.

Helen is described as being feisty and could whoop her weight in wild cats. She was fiercely independent but also very caring and giving. Helen loved gardening and watching birds. She loved to spend time reading, however; she also enjoyed a game of poker or rummy whenever the chance presented itself.

Helen spent 36 years in Port Aransas, then moved back to Amarillo in order to be closer to her family. She leaves behind many dear friends in Port A.

Forever doting on her children, Helen cherished the time she was able to spend with her grand, great, and great-great-grandchildren.

As a young girl during the Depression, she worked in the farm fields of “The Muck” in upstate New York. During WW2, Helen helped the cause as a bomb tender/inserter where the temperatures inside the factory were so hot the ladies could only work in 15-minute shifts. Helen owned and operated a business well into her eighties. She was fearless, going so far as to climb a ladder at 81 to patch a roof and skydiving at age 85.

Her true and undying faith in The Lord was her overwhelming strength as well as the foundation of her goodness.

Helen is preceded in death by her parents, her spouse, Peter Earl de Jongh, brothers James and Lawrence Sformo, sister Genevieve Jacobs and daughter Carol Johnson.

She will be greatly missed by those who survive her: daughter Madonna Krassner, son Ron de Jongh and wife Nancy, son Peter James de Jongh, sisters Rosemary Christian, Florence Pontillo, Loraine Dilcher, and Marcy Sformo. She will also be missed by her eight grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, five great great grandchildren, many friends in Port Aransas, and a few dear people in Amarillo.

Helen had a wonderful life for 95 years, surrounded by family and friends who will forever miss and cherish her memory.