Helen Cepec Klassen

God called home one of his most precious angels, Helen Cepec Klassen, of Butler, on March 24, 2024, at the age of 89.
Helen was an inspiration to everyone lucky enough to meet her. An amputee for over 60 years and a multiple cancer survivor, she never complained. Her faith was unwavering.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 49 years, Bill, and siblings Edward, Ralph, Robert and Anna. She is survived by daughters Diane Klassen Rogne (Terje), of Butler, Vicky Klassen Zuber (Dale,) of North Huntingdon, Pa., and Lisa Klassen McIntyre (Thomas), of Butler. She is also survived by grandchildren Amanda McIntyre, Patrick McIntyre (Kaitlyn), Elyse Zuber Johnson (Marcel), Kara Zuber, and Savannah McIntyre. Great-grandchildren are Ryann Court, Coleman Joyce, Jr., Violet McIntyre, and Xander Johnson. Surviving brothers are James (Patricia) Cepec and Joseph (Carol) Cepec.
She was a member of All Saints Parish, St. Conrad Roman Catholic Church.
Helen was very proud to be from Pitcairn, Pa., and was born there Sept. 29, 1934 to Pauline and Samuel Cepec. She graduated from Pitcairn High School in 1952 and continued to be active in alumni activities for many years.
Helen could type 110 words a minute. She worked at Bell Telephone as a secretary and then at Westinghouse in East Pittsburgh, where she met Bill. They married in 1956.
When Helen was 24 years old she developed a sarcoma tumor on her thigh bone. She endured many cancer treatments that were just being introduced. When she was 27 she had to have a very high leg amputation due to radiation burns.
Helen never let her disability interfere with living her life to the fullest. She had a heavy prosthesis but still mastered driving with her left foot, walking with a cane, and even scrubbing her floors on her hands and knees. In her later life she worked as a secretary for the master’s degree program at Penn State University’s Monroeville campus.
She developed breast cancer at 60, but still continued to work.
When Bill passed away very suddenly at age 67, Helen again amazed everyone with her strength and grace. She was a fountain of positivity and was always thankful for what she had been blessed with in life. She had an astounding memory and truly loved meeting people. She sent out hundreds of greeting cards every year, most of them to just let the recipient know she was thinking of them. Upon meeting anyone, she could recall everything about them, including the names of spouses and children. She made everyone feel special.
Above all else, Helen loved her large extended family. She was our biggest cheerleader, our mentor, our spiritual guide and our touchstone. She believed in Jesus’ unconditional love, dessert BEFORE dinner, and the beauty of the infield fly rule. (Oh yes, she was a huge Pirates’ fan.) She made the world a better place.
Helen’s family is grateful to the staff of Concordia at Cabot for their compassionate care.
Friends will be received Monday, April 1, from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. and 5 p.m.-7 p.m. at MARTIN FUNERAL HOME, INC., 429 Center Ave., Butler.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tues., April 2, at 10 a.m. from All Saints Parish, St. Conrad Roman Catholic Church, 125 Buttercup Rd., Butler, with Rev. William D. Wuenschel officiating.
Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 146 N. Monroe St., Butler, PA 16001, or to Glimmer of Hope, P.O. Box 908, Wexford, PA 15090.
www.martinfh.net