Helen Frances (nee Naftzinger) Neff, 99, beloved mother of Valerie Neff Newitt and Dolores Neff Wells, died October 17, 2016 at home in Audubon, Pa. Born on Sept. 6, 1917, and raised in Philadelphia, she and her husband settled in the Pennfield Downs section of Havertown, and later moved to Valley Forge Towers in King of Prussia. She later was welcomed into the home of her daughter Valerie and her family where she resided for 10 years.
Having attended West Philadelphia High School, Helen spent her earliest working years as an award-winning hair stylist at her mother’s Philadelphia Basilay Salon. She left the salon after marrying the love of her life, Harry Walter Neff, in 1937. She became a fulltime homemaker after the birth of her two daughters. She and Harry also provided a home and care for 24 years for her grandmother and mother-in-law, both of whom lived to be nearly 100.
Helen began a second career in the 1970s when she exercised her love of writing. She was a regular contributor to the Weekend Tempo section of the former Today’s Post daily newspaper, King of Prussia. She interviewed many celebrities during her career, including such luminaries as John Wayne, Bette Davis, Carol Channing, Mitzi Gaynor, Bob Hope, Sophia Loren, Lauren Bacall, Johnny Mathis, Liberace and many others.
Travels with her family took her to most of Western Europe, many islands throughout the Caribbean, South and Central America. She logged more than 30 cruises (including one to Havana, Cuba, in 1935 before it was closed to U.S. travelers), and most recently to Hawaii at the age of 95 and to Bermuda at the age of 97.
The most important things in Helen’s life were her complete faith in God, her personal relationship with Jesus Christ -- on this she has never waivered - and her family to whom she demonstrated the meaning of selfless, unconditional love every day of her life. She was married to her beloved Harry for 50 years, and carries her love and fidelity to him beyond death.
Helen gave thanks daily and continually for her many blessings, particularly for her children, their spouses, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren. She was forever in prayer for their safety and well-being. She had four phrases that she often repeated: “It is important to know the difference between a headache and a heartache,” “Fear not; God has his arms around you” and “All things are possible through Jesus.” Her parting words to her daughters were, “I love you; I adore you.”
Helen is survived by her daughters, Dolores "Dee" Wells and husband Rick Wells of Furlong, Pa., and Valerie Newitt and husband Peter S. Newitt of Audubon, her grandchildren, Kari Wells Williamson of State College, Melissa Wells White of Lansdale, and Scott Peter Newitt of Audubon, and 5 great-grandchildren --- all of whom “love and adore” her as well. Her family will hold her forever in their hearts.
Service: Funeral Service will be private on Monday, Oct. 24, at Toppitzer Funeral Home at Arlington Cemetery, 2900 State Rd.; Drexel Hill, PA 19026.
Interment: Arlington Cemetery, Drexel Hill, PA 19026
Having attended West Philadelphia High School, Helen spent her earliest working years as an award-winning hair stylist at her mother’s Philadelphia Basilay Salon. She left the salon after marrying the love of her life, Harry Walter Neff, in 1937. She became a fulltime homemaker after the birth of her two daughters. She and Harry also provided a home and care for 24 years for her grandmother and mother-in-law, both of whom lived to be nearly 100.
Helen began a second career in the 1970s when she exercised her love of writing. She was a regular contributor to the Weekend Tempo section of the former Today’s Post daily newspaper, King of Prussia. She interviewed many celebrities during her career, including such luminaries as John Wayne, Bette Davis, Carol Channing, Mitzi Gaynor, Bob Hope, Sophia Loren, Lauren Bacall, Johnny Mathis, Liberace and many others.
Travels with her family took her to most of Western Europe, many islands throughout the Caribbean, South and Central America. She logged more than 30 cruises (including one to Havana, Cuba, in 1935 before it was closed to U.S. travelers), and most recently to Hawaii at the age of 95 and to Bermuda at the age of 97.
The most important things in Helen’s life were her complete faith in God, her personal relationship with Jesus Christ -- on this she has never waivered - and her family to whom she demonstrated the meaning of selfless, unconditional love every day of her life. She was married to her beloved Harry for 50 years, and carries her love and fidelity to him beyond death.
Helen gave thanks daily and continually for her many blessings, particularly for her children, their spouses, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren. She was forever in prayer for their safety and well-being. She had four phrases that she often repeated: “It is important to know the difference between a headache and a heartache,” “Fear not; God has his arms around you” and “All things are possible through Jesus.” Her parting words to her daughters were, “I love you; I adore you.”
Helen is survived by her daughters, Dolores "Dee" Wells and husband Rick Wells of Furlong, Pa., and Valerie Newitt and husband Peter S. Newitt of Audubon, her grandchildren, Kari Wells Williamson of State College, Melissa Wells White of Lansdale, and Scott Peter Newitt of Audubon, and 5 great-grandchildren --- all of whom “love and adore” her as well. Her family will hold her forever in their hearts.
Service: Funeral Service will be private on Monday, Oct. 24, at Toppitzer Funeral Home at Arlington Cemetery, 2900 State Rd.; Drexel Hill, PA 19026.
Interment: Arlington Cemetery, Drexel Hill, PA 19026
Helen Frances (nee Naftzinger) Neff, 99, beloved mother of Valerie Neff Newitt and Dolores Neff Wells, died October 17, 2016 at home in Audubon, Pa. Born on Sept. 6, 1917, and raised in Philadelphia, she and her husband settled in the Pennfield Downs section of Havertown, and later moved to Valley Forge Towers in King of Prussia. She later was welcomed into the home of her daughter Valerie and her family where she resided for 10 years.
Having attended West Philadelphia High School, Helen spent her earliest working years as an award-winning hair stylist at her mother’s Philadelphia Basilay Salon. She left the salon after marrying the love of her life, Harry Walter Neff, in 1937. She became a fulltime homemaker after the birth of her two daughters. She and Harry also provided a home and care for 24 years for her grandmother and mother-in-law, both of whom lived to be nearly 100.
Helen began a second career in the 1970s when she exercised her love of writing. She was a regular contributor to the Weekend Tempo section of the former Today’s Post daily newspaper, King of Prussia. She interviewed many celebrities during her career, including such luminaries as John Wayne, Bette Davis, Carol Channing, Mitzi Gaynor, Bob Hope, Sophia Loren, Lauren Bacall, Johnny Mathis, Liberace and many others.
Travels with her family took her to most of Western Europe, many islands throughout the Caribbean, South and Central America. She logged more than 30 cruises (including one to Havana, Cuba, in 1935 before it was closed to U.S. travelers), and most recently to Hawaii at the age of 95 and to Bermuda at the age of 97.
The most important things in Helen’s life were her complete faith in God, her personal relationship with Jesus Christ -- on this she has never waivered - and her family to whom she demonstrated the meaning of selfless, unconditional love every day of her life. She was married to her beloved Harry for 50 years, and carries her love and fidelity to him beyond death.
Helen gave thanks daily and continually for her many blessings, particularly for her children, their spouses, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren. She was forever in prayer for their safety and well-being. She had four phrases that she often repeated: “It is important to know the difference between a headache and a heartache,” “Fear not; God has his arms around you” and “All things are possible through Jesus.” Her parting words to her daughters were, “I love you; I adore you.”
Helen is survived by her daughters, Dolores "Dee" Wells and husband Rick Wells of Furlong, Pa., and Valerie Newitt and husband Peter S. Newitt of Audubon, her grandchildren, Kari Wells Williamson of State College, Melissa Wells White of Lansdale, and Scott Peter Newitt of Audubon, and 5 great-grandchildren --- all of whom “love and adore” her as well. Her family will hold her forever in their hearts.
Service: Funeral Service will be private on Monday, Oct. 24, at Toppitzer Funeral Home at Arlington Cemetery, 2900 State Rd.; Drexel Hill, PA 19026.
Interment: Arlington Cemetery, Drexel Hill, PA 19026
Having attended West Philadelphia High School, Helen spent her earliest working years as an award-winning hair stylist at her mother’s Philadelphia Basilay Salon. She left the salon after marrying the love of her life, Harry Walter Neff, in 1937. She became a fulltime homemaker after the birth of her two daughters. She and Harry also provided a home and care for 24 years for her grandmother and mother-in-law, both of whom lived to be nearly 100.
Helen began a second career in the 1970s when she exercised her love of writing. She was a regular contributor to the Weekend Tempo section of the former Today’s Post daily newspaper, King of Prussia. She interviewed many celebrities during her career, including such luminaries as John Wayne, Bette Davis, Carol Channing, Mitzi Gaynor, Bob Hope, Sophia Loren, Lauren Bacall, Johnny Mathis, Liberace and many others.
Travels with her family took her to most of Western Europe, many islands throughout the Caribbean, South and Central America. She logged more than 30 cruises (including one to Havana, Cuba, in 1935 before it was closed to U.S. travelers), and most recently to Hawaii at the age of 95 and to Bermuda at the age of 97.
The most important things in Helen’s life were her complete faith in God, her personal relationship with Jesus Christ -- on this she has never waivered - and her family to whom she demonstrated the meaning of selfless, unconditional love every day of her life. She was married to her beloved Harry for 50 years, and carries her love and fidelity to him beyond death.
Helen gave thanks daily and continually for her many blessings, particularly for her children, their spouses, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren. She was forever in prayer for their safety and well-being. She had four phrases that she often repeated: “It is important to know the difference between a headache and a heartache,” “Fear not; God has his arms around you” and “All things are possible through Jesus.” Her parting words to her daughters were, “I love you; I adore you.”
Helen is survived by her daughters, Dolores "Dee" Wells and husband Rick Wells of Furlong, Pa., and Valerie Newitt and husband Peter S. Newitt of Audubon, her grandchildren, Kari Wells Williamson of State College, Melissa Wells White of Lansdale, and Scott Peter Newitt of Audubon, and 5 great-grandchildren --- all of whom “love and adore” her as well. Her family will hold her forever in their hearts.
Service: Funeral Service will be private on Monday, Oct. 24, at Toppitzer Funeral Home at Arlington Cemetery, 2900 State Rd.; Drexel Hill, PA 19026.
Interment: Arlington Cemetery, Drexel Hill, PA 19026
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