Obituaries

After a long happy life, except the last 5 years or so when she became disabled, Helen happily went onto her Final resting place to be with her Dear Lord Jesus and other Loved ones who had gone on before her.

She was born in Denver, Colorado on February 6, 1922 to her parents Lucille Hilton and Frank Mantele. She was the second of 8 children, Frank Jr. (Deceased), Helen, Mary-Marie & Teddy (both deceased as infants), John-Earl of Laguna Nigel, CA., Maxine Young of Fremont, CA., Jack (deceased) and Norma Tasker of Santa Cruz, CA. She also has a Half-Brother Jim-Allen of Denver, Colorado, who happens to have the same birthday as Helen, only 30 years later.

Her first marriage was to Panfilo (Phil) Peralta, Father of her two children, Maria Helena Zabala and Filo John Peralta. They divorced in 1958, then later Phil passed away in 1963. Helen’s second marriage was to Berton Almanzor in September 1961. For 36 years they had a loving marriage together, until he passed away on his 75th birthday on January 4, 1997. Sadly her loving daughter Maria Helena passed away in 2002.

She leaves behind her son Filo John, son-in-law Bernie Zabala, and step-daughter Dawn Almanzor; five grandchildren, Norman Zabala, Nanci Zabala-Lorenzo, Palesa Peralta, Lia Peralta, and Shane Anderson; six great-grandchildren, Dana, Cole, & Elyse Lorenzo, and Ayden, Autrin, & Auryn Peralta. Her siblings John Earl, Maxine, Norma Jean and Jim Allen. As well as many loved nephews and nieces.

Helen worked at many jobs in her long life, but the one she loved the most was when she worked as court clerk at the Municipal Court of San Francisco, California. She later retired in 1958 after having a back injury.

Her retirement years were spent fishing, traveling to foreign countries, and crafting novelties such as bears made out of ties, Christmas ornaments/stockings, and blankets; which she sold at boutiques and other places. She also enjoyed playing the harmonica with the Fremont “Sweet Harps”, which she named. She played in many rest homes, hospitals, organizations, and parties. She was a great cook and baker.

She was a Baptist since early childhood and she became a member of the First Baptist church in Newark in 1997. She served there in many different ways.

She became disabled in 2005, unable to stand or walk, but she went running as fast as she could when her Dear Lord called her to his Heavenly home on April 20, 2017 at 6:20pm.

Visitation Monday, May 1st, from 4-8pm at Fremont Chapel of the Roses, 1940 Peralta Blvd., Fremont, CA 94536. A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, May 2nd, 12:30pm at First Baptist Church of Newark, 6320 Dairy Ave., Newark, CA 94560. Burial will follow at Los Gatos Memorial Park in San Jose, CA.