Helen Dorthea Zarnowski Johnson, 76, passed away April 9, 2000 at her home in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Helen was born February 6, 1924 in Freehold, New Jersey, to Michael Zarnofsky and Catherine Kazecka. She grew up in Freehold and graduated from Freehold High School in 1940. Helen met her husband Lee S. Johnson at Ft. Monmouth. They were married on January 30, 1943 in Neosha, Missouri. During and after World War II they began raising their family in the Salt Lake Valley.Survived by her six children: Scott (Karen) Johnson, West Valley, UT; Nancy Johnson DeSanto, Murray, UT; Paul (Barbara) Johnson, West Valley, UT; Jeffrey (Nyla) Johnson, Sparks, NV; Kathy (Michael) Ricci, Salt Lake City, UT; and Michael (Lari) Johnson, Bluffdale, UT; 20 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters, Ceceila Valenczius (Ignatius), Florida; Agnes Barczak (Joseph), New York; Rose Marie Laird (Larrie), Brielle, NJ; and brother, Michael Zarnofsky (Rhonda), Holiday, UT. Preceded in death by her husband Lee S. Johnson; parents; two brothers and one sister.
Mom will be most remembered for her huge heart of gold. She would do anything for any of her children and friends. She always had a great love of life, her family, her "angel" dogs Mickey, Minnie, Willie, Max and Susie, playing cards and laughing with friends. She loved to be outside, go fishing, camping and traveling. As she supported her husband Lee in his U.S. Army and Army Reserve activities, she was truly the "great woman" behind the great man. She will be incredibly missed by her family and friends. Her humor and strength were there for her children and grandchildren until the very end.
The family would especially like to thank our sister Nancy for the many, many years of care and attention she gave to Mom and Dad, our brother Paul especially for the special care since Dad passed and the hospice staff for their tender loving care of our mother.
Funeral services will be held Thursday 10 a.m. on April 13, 2000 at the Wasatch Lawn Mortuary Chapel, 3401 South Highland Drive, where friends may call Thursday from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment, Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Utah Diabetes Association or the American Cancer Society.