Helen Karafa

Mrs. Helen Loya Karafa, 91, died Friday, February 17, 2023, surrounded by prayers and love from near and far.

We respectfully request that no one arrive at the funeral home prior to the posted visitation times, so as not to intrude on the family’s private time. 

Family and friends are invited to the visitation in the Kowalski Funeral Home, 515 Roselle Street, Linden on Wednesday, February 22^nd. from 3:00-6:00PM.  On Thursday, February 23^rd. at 9:45AM, everyone will start to gather directly at St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church, Linden where a funeral mass will be offered at 10:00AM.  The prayers of committal will precede Helen’s burial in the family plot in St. Gertrude Cemetery, Colonia, New Jersey.

Helen, the daughter of the late Elizabeth Huzuda Loya and the late Stephen Loya was born in Linden, New Jersey and she was a lifelong resident of Linden.

Helen worked for thirty-eight years for various companies in the field of office and money management, such as accounts receivable and payroll.  The last ten years of her career Helen worked for H. Lehrhoff & Co. in Maplewood, New Jersey until her well-deserved retirement in 1999.

In her spare time, Helen was always active and on the move.  She was a volunteer worker for the Linden Ambulance Corps, as well as, an Internal Revenue Service volunteer helping the Linden senior citizen community prepare their yearly income tax returns.  Helen was a member of the former Linden Tremley Point Senior Citizens, the National AARP and the AARP Linden Chapter #1894.  She was a long time past officer and member of the Linden Retired Men’s Club, now known as the Linden Senior Men & Women’s Club.  Helen was a fixture in her neighborhood and the surrounding blocks as she was often seen walking her beloved dog, Princess, even when she had to use a walker to do so.  Nothing kept Helen down.

Helen was predeceased by almost everyone in her family including her husband, John C. Karafa (2006); her two sons, William E. Wilson and John B. Karafa; her brothers and sisters, John Loya, Joseph Loya, Stephen Loya, Andrew Loya, Frank Loya, George Loya, Daniel Loya, Mary Christie and Margaret “Peggy” Fritz and her niece, Maryann Hasky. 

Helen is survived by her niece, Ramona Howansky and her husband, Glenn; her two nephews, John Loyer and Robert B. Loya and several great nieces and great nephews.

Helen was known to be frank, honest, and open and she definitely always said whatever was on her mind.  There are not too many people that are like that today in our modern world.  God bless Helen for aways being true to herself and others.  We will certainly miss her!

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.