Helen Chiono

November 25, 1925 - June 16, 2013

Helen Chiono Nov. 25, 1925 - June 16, 2013 Helen Chiono, 88, loving wife of Armando Chiono, for over 60 years, succumbed to the effects of Alzheimer's disease on Sunday, June 16, with her family at her side. Helen was born in Sparks, Nevada on Nov. 25, 1925 to the late Joseph Gonzales and the late Ysidra Manuela Heredia Maximillian Gonzales. At the very early age of nine months old, Helen contracted polio. An operation would help her walk again at the age of nine, but the consequences of this disease were to color the rest of her life. It did not make her fragile but made her a very determined young woman. Helen graduated from Weed High School in 1943. Although she had wished to attend college, the early death of her father required her to assume a much-needed role at home. While her older sister, Nellie attended nursing school, Helen helped raise her six brothers and continued to act as the matriarch of the family for the remainder of her life. In 1952, Helen married Armando Chiono, a new resident to Weed and the new manager at the Safeway store. Helen and Armando soon moved to Carmel where they resided prior to his deployment to Japan during the Korean War. Upon his return, they moved to San Jose, California where they lived for eight years. In 1960 they relocated to Vallejo and Helen has called Vallejo “home” ever since. Helen loved a good challenge. At the age of 37 when her youngest son almost drowned, she learned to swim. At the age of 38, she learned to ride a bicycle to keep up with her three children and at the age of 55 she took up interior design. She could fix anything from a kitchen sink to a car. Although Helen assumed the role of stay at home mom, she wasn't completely fulfilled. In 1966, Helen learned of a new tax course that a company called H&R Block was offering for the very first time. It became her passion for the next 35 years. She attended seminars at UC Berkley, Davis and San Francisco State honing her tax skills and memorizing thousands of laws and regulations, all before the Internet. She became a well-known tax consultant in town and became the chief financial planner and tax expert for three generations of her family. Her love of taxes was only surpassed by her love for her family and her friends, that including the friends of her children, all, who meant so very much to Helen. She loved the fact that her children's friends treated her home like their own and they knew that they were always welcome. Helen, along with her husband, Armando, always had an open door policy for everyone. She enjoyed large family gatherings, Sunday dinners that rarely had fewer than 20 people and the annual Gonzales Thanksgiving where it was not uncommon to have 70 people in attendance. Dee Gonzales, Karen Gonzales, the late Ramona Gonzales and Marion Moffett kept her laughing throughout her life. The last few years were spent with her family and grandchildren whom she took great pride in. She and her husband, Armando, traveled extensively throughout Europe and the United States with their dear friends Patricia and William Patrick whom they felt gave them a different view of the world. Helen believed that it was never too late too learn and that one should treat others, as you would like to be treated yourself. Helen will be sorely missed by those she loved and leaves behind. She is survived by her husband, Armando Chiono; their three children, Patricia, Victor, and Armand Chiono. Her six grandchildren, Kara, Alexa, Alec, AJ, Austin Chiono, Katie Guthrie, and her loving daughter-in-law, Barbara Chiono, also survive her. She was preceded in death by her parents; her nephew, Mike; her niece, DeLayne; her brother, Frank and her sister, Nellie. She is also survived by five of her brothers, Jess, Louis, Leno, Si and Henry Gonzales, as well as 19 nieces and nephews and countless friends. Visitation will be from 4 until 7 p.m., Thursday, June 20, at Twin Chapels, 1l00 Tennessee St., Vallejo. A rosary will be held immediately following at 7 p.m. A funeral Mass is planned for Friday morning, at 11 a.m., at St. Basil Church, 1200 Tuolumne St., Vallejo, followed by interment at All Souls Catholic Cemetery, 550 Glen Cove Pkwy, Vallejo. The family would like to thank the staff at the Heritage Home in Vallejo, the staff at the Camino Alto Residence and the doctors and the nurses at Kaiser Permanente for their kindness, consideration and care at this very difficult time. Please visit the online tribute at twinchapelsmortuary.com. Arrangements entrusted to the direction and care of Twin Chapels Mortuary, Vallejo (707) 552-6696.