Helen Margaret (Krytusa) Nastase, passed away peacefully at home on May 26, 2026, shy by four days of reaching her 101st birthday.
Helen was born on May 30, 1925 to Valentine and Rose (Orlosky) Krytusa in St. Benedict, PA. Her father was a coal miner and in search of work he moved the family from St Benedict to the West Virginia area of Fairmont. They eventually moved back to the Indiana area to a farm just north of Blue Spruce Park when Helen was 6 years old. While there she attended grade school in Chambersville and then after three years the family moved to Indiana, PA.
Helen finished 11th grade at Indiana High school and moved to Elizabeth NJ where she and two of her sisters worked in a retrofitted Singer Sewing plant assembling parts for the war effort.
Once the war was over, she moved to Washington, DC and began working at the Federal Credit Union as a teleautograph operator. While there she met her future husband, Albert Nastase, who also was working in Washington DC doing bridge construction work. They became engaged and eventually moved back to the Indiana area and were married on November 25, 1948 at St Bernard’s Church in Indiana. Together they shared nearly 55 years of marriage before Albert’s death on March 25, 2003.
Helen was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She and Albert raised 8 children, and were proud grandparents/great-grandparents to 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren who survive and are as follows:
Thomas, of Chambersville.
Donna (William) Fitzpatrick of Markleysburg and their daughter Dr Meghan Fitzpatrick (Dr James Lynch) and their children Keira, Aubrey and Samuel.
Lucinda (Thomas) Klunk of Indiana and their children: Matthew (Lisa) Klunk and their children Ellie, Grace and Avalynn; and daughter Stephanie.
Kathie (Raymond) McCurdy of Indiana and their children: Cory (Cyndi) McCurdy and their son Liam; Ryan (Anne) McCurdy and their children Abigail and Daniel; and Alisha (Nick) Holzman and their daughter Ida.
Vicky of Indiana, who resided with Helen and was her primary caregiver the past few years.
Lisa (John) Beck and their daughter, Rachel.
Lori (Barry) Wilson and their children: Samantha (Shawn) Wolfe and their children Cooper and Cobee; Rocky (fiancée Nanelyn) Wilson; and Helena (Garth) Clabaugh and their daughter Nova.
Julie (Clair) McAdams and their daughter Cassandra (Nick) Foster.
Helen is also survived by her brother Walter Krytusa of Indiana and her sister Josephine Vooght of Dagsboro DE. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and their offspring.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and the following brothers and sisters: Mary (John) Hyde, John (Joan) Krytusa, Ann (William) Derence, Valentine (Louise) Krytusa, Geneva “Dolly” (Murray) Lemmon, Teresa (Tony) Pittman, and Joseph (Barbara) Krytusa. She was also preceded in death by numerous brothers and sisters-in-law from her husband’s side of the family.
Helen was a faithful member of St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church and was a member of the women’s choir for a number of years.
The family would like to thank the caregivers from PA Home Life, the nurses from Penn Home Health and Concordia VNA Hospice for their excellent care.
Per Helen’s wishes, services were private for the family. The family was assisted by Rairigh-Bence Funeral Home & Crematory. Online condolences may be offered by visiting www.rbfh.net. If so inclined, donations can be made to Four Footed Friends, 220 Beck Road, Indiana PA, in memory of Helen’s love for her pets who passed before her—Tucker, Muffin, Holly and Genny.
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