Helen (Kidda) Smith, 95, a resident of the Hometown Nursing Facility, and

formerly of Coaldale, died Friday, June 3, in St. Luke's Hospital, Coaldale

Campus, after a 16 year battle with Alzheimer's disease. Born in Coaldale,

Helen was a first generation American, the daughter of the late Ann

(Dancho) and Andrew Kidda of the Carpathian-Russian region of Eastern

Europe and the wife of the late Charles Smith of Coaldale. Two significant

companions, John Ogozalek and Len Sicenavage, are also deceased. A graduate

of Coaldale High School, she co-managed her brother John's grocery store in

Coaldale until the mid-1960s when she became an associate with American Bank,

Reading, at its Coaldale Office. She retired in 1982. Helen was also a

devout member and trustee of St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, Lansford.

Being a child of the Great Depression made Helen a lover of life. Always,

"young at heart" Nanny-Bananny loved to travel, usually with a friend or

relative by her side. During her lifetime, she visited 5 of the 7 continents

and more than ½ of the 50 states. She hiked volcanoes, rode camels,

parasailed, and negotiated for a "better price" everywhere she went. She

sparked in her grandchildren a love of Broadway shows, NYC, and the Jersey

shore. She is survived by her two daughters, Marianne (Smith) Jones, wife

of the late Bill Jones and Marcia (Smith) Evans, wife of Dan (Deacon) Evans

both of Lake Hauto; five grandchildren, Brian Jones and his wife Emily of

Alexandria, VA, David Jones and his wife Emily of Portland, Oregon, Kerry

(Evans) Palumbo the wife of Robert of Lehighton, Coreen (Evans) Weilminster

the wife of Eric of Arnold, MD, and Daniel Evans of Riverton, NJ; 9 great

grandchildren, William, Ingrid, and Penelope Jones, Cara and Dominic

Palumbo, Brooke and Braedyn Weilminster, and Addison and Daniel Evans.

One of 13 children, Helen is also survived by brothers Bernard Kidda of

Coaldale and Michael Kidda and his wife Ann of Sugarland, Texas; sisters,

Eva Benek wife of the late Robert of Lake Hauto, Margaret wife of Will

Stafford of Kennett Square, PA, Julia wife of Warren Rubel of Valpariso,

IN; sister-in-law, Beatrice the wife of her late brother Joseph, and

numerous nieces and nephews. Her deceased siblings include Mary wife

of the late Bernard Yurko and the late Walter Stelz, Andrew and his wife

the late Bess, Anna the wife of the late John Fisher, John and his wife the

late Helen, Joseph, Irene wife of the late Frank Momrock, and Elizabeth

the wife of John Sherbin. Services will be held at11:00 AM on Friday,

June 10, 2016 in St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Center Street, Lansford

with The Rev. Robert J. Techlinsky officiating. Call at the church from

9-11 AM on Friday. Interment in the parish cemetery in Hometown, PA.

Memorials in her name may be made to Children's' Hospital of Philadelphia

(CHOP) at give. CHOP, 34th St. and Civic Center

Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104 or St. Luke's Hospice, c/o St. Luke's

University Health Network, Development Office,