Helen Vessella, 98, a resident of Lattavo Drive, passed away the morning of Saturday, May 28, 2016, at Jameson Care Center. She was born on Sept. 16, 1917, in Monaca. Helen was a daughter of the late Arsenija and Stana Orell Pavkovich. The family moved to West Pittsburg where she met James J. Vessella. They married on June 8, 1933, and were married for 46 years until Jim's passing on Dec. 18, 1979. Helen will be remembered for her love of her Serbian heritage, the music, dance and ethnic foods. She encouraged her children to participate in the culture. Her daughter Mary Ann was awarded a scholarship to the Duquesne University Tamburitzans. Helen became involved in the parent organization supporting the Duquesne Tammies. She accompanied them to their workshop and rehearsal site at Lake Nebagaman, Wisconsin. She cooked and helped with the student performers. She also traveled to Europe several times with Tamburitzan groups. She was active with the group for 20 years, during which the parent group was a highlight at the Pittsburgh Folk Festival. She demonstrated and taught the art of making ethnic foods and she was featured on Channel 11 News Pittsburgh and in the New Castle News in 1985, for making strudel. Helen continued her love and support of her heritage by becoming a member of the adult Tamburitzans, Veseljaci of Farrell. She played the Preem and performed with the group in fundraising by making and teaching the art of strudel making. Helen became an honorary member of the Veseljaci Tamburitizans on Dec. 11, 2011. She is remembered as a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Helen is survived by a son, James J. Vessella of Greenville; a daughter, Dr. Mary Ann Nobers of New Castle; four grandchildren, Mark Vessella and his wife, Lori, of Phoenix, Arizona, Suzanne Vessella of Ellwood City, Lorrin Vessella Bowser and her husband, Bob, of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Maret Vessella McNeil and her husband, David, of Phoenix; and four great-grandchildren, Alexandra, Samantha, Matthew and Noah. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in passing by her son, Peter Vessella; five brothers, Joseph, Steve, Michael, Theodore and Micky Pavkovich; and a sister, Violet Vukovich. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the R. Cunningham Funeral Home and Crematory Inc., 2429 Wilmington Road. A procession will leave the funeral home by 9:30 a.m. Wednesday for Mary, Mother of Hope Parish, where she was a member, for a Mass of Christian burial to be celebrated at 10 a.m., officiated by the Rev. Frank Almade. Internment will take place in St. Vitus Cemetery.