Helen Brogno Welch passed away peacefully at the age of 86 in Port Orchard, Wash., on Aug. 8, 2008. Born Helen Margaret Brogno, the seventh of nine children, on Feb. 4, 1922, in Norwich, Ct., to Dominic Thomas Brogno and Theresa Piezzo Brogno. Her siblings nicknamed her Dolly, a moniker by which she became known to family and friends. She was very proud to be a first generation Italian in the United States. Helen attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and graduated from Norwich Free Academy in 1940. The years after high school, Helen worked at the Thermos plant in Norwich, Norwich State Hospital, and a textile mill. After her children were grown and gone, Helen began a 14-year career as a cook for Workman Middle School in Pensacola, Fl. She was also one of the first foster grandparents in Pensacola when the program was initiated. She worked at the county juvenile detention center and with children with special needs. However, she is most proud of having been a “Rosie the Riveter” in a defense plant during WWII making propellers for Pratt & Whitney engines.

Helen was married to John J. Welch from 1948 to 1984. From that union came two of the greatest joys of Helen’s life: her son and daughter. As a Navy wife, Helen adjusted well to moving every few years. The family lived numerous times in Norfolk, Va., and Pensacola. There was a brief stay in Norwich, Ct., before moving to Naples, Italy, for three years. While there she was able to travel to her parents’ birthplace in Cozenza, Italy, and meet some distant relatives. Helen lived the last 20 years of her life in Washington state with her son and most recently with her daughter.

Always loving a good joke, Helen had an incredible sense of humor. Her love and respect for nature was evident in all she taught her children. Helen was a natural born artist. She loved all that was colorful, and that showed in her personality. She was always looking for things that brought her good luck and could find a four-leaf clover at just a glance. It was just like her to pick the luckiest day of the century (08-08-08) to go Heaven. Her favorite pastimes included traveling, gardening, collecting rocks with rings around them, fishing, reading, and watching game shows. She was a great cook. She very much enjoyed playing Bingo and was known as the “Hat Lady” for all her colorful hats at the Swinomish Casino Bingo in Anacortes. Helen is survived by her son, John Dominic Welch (Oak Harbor), her daughter, Kareen Welch Stockton (Port Orchard), her four grandchildren, Dacia Stockton (Portland, Ore.), Thomas Stockton (Seattle), Shawn and Shannon Welch (Spokane), Bryan Welch (Spokane), her sister, Theresa Geragotelis (Norwich, Ct.), numerous nieces and nephews and the friends and neighbors of Cornet Bay on Whidbey Island. Her love and generous heart will be missed greatly.

In lieu of flowers, our family suggests donations be made in her name to The Nature Conservancy (1-800-628-6860, acct. no. 11847481) or the Habitat for Humanity (1-800-422-4828).