Obituary for
Helen Kathleen Zappa (Giannini)
Helen K. Zappa (Giannini)
Joyfully entered Eternal Life
on February 25, 2017 at Age 96
Helen was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on October 20, 1920, the daughter of Emilio and Mamie Giannini. She grew up on the Eastside, just up the hill from Swede Hollow. Helen attended and graduated from St. Paul’s Mechanics Arts High School. Following graduation, she enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II and was stationed in Washington, D.C. She loved to attend the military dances on Harriet Island in St. Paul and kept her passion for dancing even after her service term. She was set up on a blind date with a man named James Charles Zappa. He fell madly in love with her and the two were married at Holy Redeemer Church on November 7, 1944. She and James were very involved with the original St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church (now known as Blessed Sacrament) when the Masses were still taking place in the basement of a hardware store. Once the official church was built, they continued to be involved with distributing communion and with the Loaves and Fishes, Too Program through the Dorothy Day Center. During her life, Helen had very successful jobs at Montgomery Ward and Applebaum Companies. Outside of church and work Helen loved to sew and go bowling.
Survived by loving children, Kathy (William) Weis, Barb (Jerry) Thompson, and Tom (Terri); grandchildren, Barbara (Joe) Schwab, Bill (Amy) Weis, Brian (Laura) Weis, Kristin (Jeff Turek) Zappa, Beth (Mitch) Kockler, Tony (Whitney Pankonin) Zappa, James Zappa, Paul (Lauren Hall) Zappa; great-grandchildren, Taylor, Adrianna, Alexandra and Samantha Schwab, Nicholas Weis, David Weis, and Amelia Kockler; also survived by many sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, and friends. Preceded in death by husband, James Sr.; son, Fr. James Jr.; and parents, Emilio and Mamie Giannini.
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