Helen Pulgino

Helen Roncace (Rongaus) Pulgino, 107, of Rostraver Township, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 21, 2026 in Mon Valley Care Center. Born in Grove City, PA on June 25, 1918, she was the daughter of the late Valentino Roncace and Assunta (Gianni) Roncace

Helen and her late husband Raymond married in 1940 and started their lives in Donora, which was the birthplace of the famous Stan Musial and the Deadly Smog in 1948. In the 1950's, Ray worked as a car-hauling truck driver for McCraken Oldsmobile in Donora, were he later sold automotive parts and moved on to the service department. While living in Donora, Helen and Ray had three children and in 1960, they moved their family to Rostraver Township. After Helen's children where grown, she went on to work as a cook and cleaner at the two local restaurants in Rostraver, Sweeney's Restaurant and Peasant Village. In addition to her work at the restaurants, Helen also cared for the children of a neighbor. Following the death of her beloved husband Ray in 1980, she said, "I never saw another man I'd want to marry." As an active member of the Church of St. Anne, Helen enjoyed playing cards with the New Society Card Club. Though she passed a driving test as a young woman, she always left the driving to others. Family and friends alike enjoyed her wedding soup and her legendary date filled-biscotti which became a favorite of her children and their families as well as her nieces, nephews and cousins. Helen always laughed when asked for the secret to living a long and happy life and would tell all who asked, "I always tell everybody I was farm-fed!!" She told her son Ray on her 105th birthday. "I really don't have a secret. I just got up in the morning and did what I had to do and went to bed, and got up the next morning and did it again."

Helen and her six sisters could turn an everyday meal into a gourmet experience. Her kitchen was the heart of her home, she prepared meals everyday no matter how many people showed up and there was always room at her table and the coffee pot was always on and everyone was welcome.

Helen will be lovingly missed by her daughters, Cecelia (Donald) Fraser of Monongahela and Carol Ann (Richard) Carcella of Salisbury, NC; son, Raymond (Debra) Pulgino of Rostraver Township; grandchildren, Brian (Denise) Beckinger, Craig Beckinger, Leslie Ann Carcella (Adam) Emmert, Nicole Leigh Carcella Daining, Evan Pulgino, Eric Pulgino and Danielle Pulgino; great-grandchildren, Jordan Rae Carcella (David) Henry, Jake Adam Emmert, Austin Joseph Emmert, Natalie Ann Daining and Savannah Leigh Daining and Elena Rose Bell; as well as great great-grandchildren, Charolette Rae Henry and Emmery Henry.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband, Raymond Pulgino in 1980.

The Pulgino family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the Staff of the Mon Valley Care Center and Viaquest Hospice for their exceptional care, love and compassion.

Family and friends will be received on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM in the James C. Stump Funeral Home Inc., 580 Circle Drive, Rostraver Township (724-929-7934) https://www.jamesstumpfuneralhome.com where a Blessing Service will be held on Friday at 9:30 AM followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 AM in the Church of St. Anne with Rev. Joel Sayson presiding. Interment will follow in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery.