Helen Ballas Obituary

Obituary published on Legacy.com by O. R. Woodyard Co. Funeral & Cremation Services - South Chapel on Apr. 23, 2024.

In anticipation of the Resurrection, Helen P. Ballas peacefully fell asleep in the Lord on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at the age of 90 in Simsbury, CT. Helen was born and raised in Memphis, TN where she graduated from the now-historic Central High School. On September 2, 1956, she married Steven P. Ballas and moved to his hometown of Muskegon, MI.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Steven Ballas, in 1991, and by her parents, Pete and Kyriakoula Pappas. Helen was the second oldest of the five Pappas girls of Memphis and is preceded in death by sisters, Zoe Nickas and Georgia Cosmas. She is survived by younger twin sisters. Helen is also survived by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Helen was blessed with three daughters. She found much joy in the love of her four grandchildren. She also had five Godchildren.

Helen participated in the life of several Greek Orthodox parishes where she lived (Annunciation, Memphis, TN; Annunciation, Muskegon, MI; Saints Constantine & Helen Cathedral, Cleveland Heights, OH; Annunciation, Akron, OH; and Annunciation Cathedral, Columbus, OH. Later in life, she attended Saint George Cathedral, Hartford, CT).

Under +Metropolitan Maximos, Helen served on the Metropolis of Pittsburgh Council. She supported the Spiritual Renewal ministry, Senior Citizens, monthly Feed the Needy, Bible Study, Choir, Philoptochos (Friends of the Poor), JOY & GOYA (Youth) Advisor, Welcome Committee, and she was passionate about connecting college students to the Church and convincing parents to send their children to Church Summer Camp.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Archbishop Elpidophoros Camping Scholarship Fund benefiting camping programs throughout the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. The newly established fund provides needs-based scholarships for kids to attend Summer Camp, OR please consider donating to JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), which is the largest, non-governmental funder of Type 1 Diabetes research worldwide. It was Helen's prayer that a cure will soon be reality.

All funeral arrangements will take place on "Bright" Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Columbus, OH. Visitation will be from 9:30 am until the time of funeral service at 11 am at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 555 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215. A Makaria (Mercy) luncheon will occur before departure to Glen Rest Memorial Estate, 8029 E. Main Street, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068. Services officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh.

Archdiocese Camp Scholarship Fund:

tinyurl.com/Helen-CampScholarship

Select "Make your Gift a Tribute" and enter "Helen Ballas." By mail: Checks payable to the "Archbishop Elpidophoros Camping Scholarship Fund." Memo: "Helen Ballas" Send to: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, 8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10075.

JDRF - (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation):

tinyurl.com/Helen-JDRF

Select "In Memory of" and list Helen Ballas for proper acknowledgement. (Next of Kin info not needed.) By mail: JDRF Southern & Central Ohio Chapter, PO Box 5005, Hagerstown, MD 21741.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Helen, please visit our floral store.