HELEN GOCELJAK

VISITATION: THURSDAY: OCTOBER 3, 2024 5PM TO 8PM STICKLE-SOLTESZ FUNERAL HOME FUNERAL MASS: FRIDAY: OCTOBER 4, 2024 10:30AM ST. JOSEPH RC CHURCH 454 GERMANTOWN ROAD WEST MILFORD, NJ 07480 PRIVATE FINAL DISPOSITION Helen S. Goceljak, (nee Stanley), 82, of West Milford, NJ, known widely and to her friends as “Sandy”, passed away peacefully surrounded by her children on Monday, September 16, 2024. Helen was born in New York City on April 1, 1942 and lived there most of her early life, attending and graduating from Fordham University in 1962 It was there she met the love of her life, John Goceljak, from Clifton, New Jersey. They were married in 1962 and lived in Passaic, New Jersey until 1964, before moving to West Milford, NJ, where they spent the rest of their lives. Helen worked as a teacher after finishing school, but spent most of her life building and raising a family of four children in West Milford. She was member of St. Joseph’s R.C. Church where she worked as an usher and was an active volunteer throughout town her whole life, contributing her time to too many groups to list including, the Macopin Fire Department Ladies Auxillary, the Hillcrest Senior Center, the American Legion, and Queen of Peace church, where she also frequently attended mass. Helen also worked in town for different day care centers and at Sears Hardware store. Her kindness and creativity were boundless. She had a passion and talent for crafts, especially crocheting. Her creations such as baby clothing, hats and sweaters were donated to those in need, such as medical patients and the convalescent. She was widowed in 1999, and preceded in death by her daughter-in-law Kerry Goceljak in 2019. Helen is survived by her four children John Goceljak and his wife Donna, Mike, Marie and Vincent; her three grandchildren: Michael, John and Amanda; her sister Mary Eisenstein of Long Island; as well as many in-laws, nieces and nephews. The family will receive visitors on Thursday: October 3, 2024 from 5pm to 8pm at the Stickle-Soltesz Funeral Home, 187 La Rue Road, Newfoundland, NJ 07435. The funeral mass will take place on Friday: October 4, 2024 at 10:30am at St. Joseph’s RC Church, 454 Germantown Road, West Milford, NJ 07480. On line condolences and directions: www.sticklesolteszfuneralhome.com.

HELEN GOCELJAK

April 1, 1942 - September 16, 2024