Helen Bacchiochi, 87, businesswoman

Helen A. Bacchiochi of 32 Gilbert Street, a former businesswoman and home health aide who had lived here 70 years, died Wednesday, May 2, at her home. She was 87 years old and the widow of Aldo J. Bacchiochi.
A native of Jersey City, N.J., Mrs. Bacchiochi was born on March 9, 1914, a daughter of the late Alexander and Mary Finfa Hudiak. As a child, she moved with her family to Yonkers, N.Y., where she attended schools.
After her marriage to Ridgefielder Aldo Bacchiochi, she worked side by side with her husband as a bookkeeper and “parts chaser” at Al’s Garage on Gilbert Street. “She could strip the valves out of a ’40 V-8 faster than many mechanics,” her husband once bragged.
During World War II, she was a volunteer with the Motor Corps.
After the war, Mr. Bacchiochi closed the business and went to work with his brothers at Bacchiochi Construction. Then in her 40s, Mrs. Bacchiochi studied to be a licensed practical nurse and became a home health aide for a number of people in the area, including Henry Dick of Danbury, Ted Jessup and Joan Conklin-Cox of Ridgefield.
She later worked for 12 years as an electrical assembler for Digitech of Ridgefield.
In 1981, Mrs. Bacchiochi became the bookkeeper, office manager and delivery service for the then-new Bacchiochi Photo Service, operated by her son Anthony and daughter-in-law, Donna. Though she was nearing her 70s “Helen was unafraid to tackle the computer skills necessary to streamline the bookkeeping,” Donna Bacchiochi said. “She continued to be the backbone of the business until stricken by illness in 1995.”
Mrs. Bacchiochi was an avid bowler. During her years with the women’s league that met in the basement of the old First Congregational Church clubhouse, she was overheard remarking that she bowled so well because she was aiming at the “pin boy.” The pin boy was the late Charles Ritch, who later became her son-in-law.
She also enjoyed quilting, needlepoint, crocheting, and ceramics.
Mrs. Bacchiochi went through a “long and debilitating decline,” said Donna Bacchiochi. She “was cared for in her home with her dog Cricket by her loving family and a small army of devoted nurses and friends, among them and especially Dorothy Lockwood of Ridgefield.”
Donna Bacchiochi added: “Fiercely protective of her family and their interests, Helen appeared contentious to many, but those who enjoyed the privilege of her friendship discovered a generous and loving soul.”
She was well known for her sense of humor. In his eulogy at the funeral, longtime friend Bob Cuneo told how a few days before her death, her son and Father Robert Morrissey of St. Mary’s visited her. “She was sleeping in her bed and slowly opened her eyes to see Tony and Father Morrissey in the room,” Mr. Cuneo said.
“What are you doing here?” Mrs. Bacchiochi asked the pastor.
“Helen, I’m here to help you get ready to meet God,” Father Morrissey replied.
Mrs. Bacchiochi looked at him and said, “Maybe you should get God ready to meet me.”
“She never lost her quick wit,” Mr. Cuneo said.
Besides her son and daughter-in-law, Mrs. Bacchiochi is survived by a daughter, Joyce Ritch West of Bethel; two sisters, Sofy Barron of Satellite Beach, Fla., and Jeanette Petrullo of Manasquan, N.J.; four grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. A sister, Dorothy Hoffer of Yonkers, died before her.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Saturday at St. Mary’s Church. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery at the convenience of the family.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Visiting Nurse Association, 90 East Ridge, Ridgefield.
The Kane Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.