WILBURTON – Early on the morning of February 14th, 2025, Helene Elizabeth Tomedi (née Coxe) rejoined the loving presence of God and of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She passed away peacefully, in her sleep, at home.

Born December 1, 1954, Helene was the youngest daughter of Emma and Edward Coxe, who resided on Poplar St., in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania. In the ninth grade, she met her future husband, John Tomedi, of Connorsville. The high school sweethearts celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this past May.

Helene was devoted to her family and to her faith. After her graduation from Mount Carmel High School, she earned her licensed practical nurse certification at Geisinger Nursing School in Danville. She worked as a nurse locally at first, then for several years in Philadelphia, helping her husband John through medical school at Temple University. In her twenties, Helene took up the study of Scripture, beginning a lifelong effort to understand humanity's relationship with God, to grow in spirit, and to help others find faith and comfort in the Lord.

While raising her three sons, Helene enrolled in the theology program at King's College in Wilkes-Barre. She became an ordained minister, leading several congregations and Bible studies through the '00s and '10s. Scores of women attended each of her luncheons, held locally every few months, where she presented her signature exegesis of the Hebrew Bible. She wrote countless sermons, and was both gratified and humbled for occasions to perform the rites of marriage and baptism. She was later active with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, advocating especially to magnify and expand the roles of women in ministry and in the Church.

Helene also sought to help individuals in the community through her charitable works. When her best friend and sister-in-law, Debra Tomedi, founded Cornerstone Community Center in 2000, Helene filled her days working directly with individuals and families in crisis to address their basic needs. For a period of nearly 13 years, the two women and a handful of volunteers stocked a food pantry, received and delivered clothes and other donations, and placed those at risk in safe and secure housing. At Christmastime, the Cornerstone gifted toys to over 300 local children each year.

Helene loved music. Besides the Christian Praise that got her through errands and chores, she and John saw many of their favorite musicians in concert, including Crosby, Stills & Nash, James Taylor, Hall & Oates, and (her favorite) the Monkees. She liked to laugh at sappy movies and silly sitcoms, and she always cried during the national anthem. Her potato salad couldn't be matched, but she was most famous for her Tandy Cakes, which she made regularly and on request since the 1980s. She loved sweet wines on ice, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, ice cream, strawberries, Cool Whip, tea in the morning, and tea in the evening.

Helene is survived by her loving husband, Dr. John Tomedi, of Wilburton; children, John Jr. and his wife Brennan Tomedi of Howard, Daniel Tomedi of Wilburton, Joshua Tomedi and his wife Melissa Scott of Grafton, Massachusetts, and Cody Haupt, who was always considered part of the family, of Phoenix, Arizona; twin grandsons, Jack and Benjamin Tomedi; sister, Cynthia Shamansky and her husband Paul of Sebastian, Florida; cousin, Geraldine Zarkoski and her husband Marty of Kulpmont; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother, Emma Coxe (née Krashefski), and father, Edward Coxe, of Mount Carmel; brother, Robert Bush, of Stewart, Tennessee; and mother-in-law, Pat Tomedi, of Connorsville.

The memorial service will be held from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Thursday, February 27th at C.J. Lucas Funeral Home, 27 N. Vine St., Mt. Carmel, C J Lucas IV, Supervisor, and is open to the public. Following the service, the family invites all to attend a reception and luncheon in remembrance of Helene from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Ponduce Farms, 270 White Church Rd., Elysburg (Numidia). In remembrance of Helene and in lieu of flowers, the family asks that charitable donations be made to the Parkinson's Foundation (https://www.parkinson.org/) or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (https://www.michaeljfox.org/). To send condolences to the family, please visit www.cjlucasfuneralhome.com