Helen Scanlon was Zen long before many of us even knew the meaning of the word. As the mother of 12 children, it came in handy! It was her superpower. Where did she get this from, who knows.

Helen was born in New York City on August 21,1929 to George D. Eidt and Mary Martin Eidt. She grew up in Manhattan and Queens, the oldest of three children. Her sister, Doris, and brother, George, preceded her in death.

As a young girl, ice and coal were still being delivered by horse-drawn carts to the family brownstone on 52 nd Street and 2 nd Avenue. Friday nights were for movie going with her beloved grandmother, followed by midnight dinners in Chinatown. Helen was an excellent student and as a classically trained vocalist starred in many school musicals, later sang in St. Rose’s church choir, and various piano bars at the prompting of her husband, John.

She married John J. Scanlon in 1949 and spent their first rent check on a new pair of shoes…oops! They were happily married for almost 50 years. John preceded her in death in 1998. They were the parents of 12 children: John (Viola), Eileen, George (Dolores), Karen (Ken), Pam (John), Timothy (deceased), Kim, Dennis (deceased), Doris (George), Patrick, Joan, Tom (Joan). Helen was the loving grandmother to 22 grand and 32 great-grandchildren.

Career Highlight: Working as a secretary, after leaving high school, she got fired from her first job because she was watching the St. Patrick’s Day parade instead of the clock and failed to return to her desk after lunch.

After the arrival of their first child, Helen’s work ethic kicked into high gear! Ever the trendsetters, John and Helen moved to Levittown, New York, one of first planned suburban neighborhoods of post-war America. Their baby boom began!

In 1958, with eight small children, they moved to North Wales, PA, where they had four more.

Helen was an incredibly busy mother but somehow found time to pursue her own interests and hobbies. Besides singing in the church choir, she was a member of the local antique club, read a novel a week, and devoured numerous newspaper and magazine articles daily. After she put the kids to bed, she also did needlepoint, crocheted, and knitted endless pairs of mittens while watching Johnny Carson.  ‘Working’ the nightshift her entire life, she also knitted a baby blanket for every one of her grand and great-grandchildren as Masterpiece Theater played in the background.

She took great pride in her cooking and hosted countless, delicious Sunday dinners. Additionally, she welcomed her children’s friends to the table on a nightly basis. 

Almost every summer afternoon, her car was packed with family and the neighborhood kids for the ride to the Nor Gwyn pool. These same kids, summer after summer, joined the Scanlon family vacations in Vermont and down the shore.

Helen and John and their six youngest children embraced a whole new family when they opened a neighborhood restaurant in Cheltenham. They became embedded in the community, attracting and keeping a steady flow of regular customers for over 20 years.

Loving warm weather, in retirement, she and John escaped every winter to the west coast of Florida. Their place became a second home for family and friends.

Almost every afternoon in Florida you would find her swimming in the community pool and socializing with her many friends at Timber Oaks. She also spent years singing with her community choral group and playing cards in the evening.

Helen was a devoted member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church for 68 years. Her faith sustained her always. She will be cherished beyond measure for the life she lived, for the lessons she taught, and for the love she gave to all.

Funeral Mass 12 PM Friday April 17, 2026, at St. Rose of Lima Church 424 S. Main St. North Wales, PA 19454.  Relatives and friends are invited to the Visitation at the Church from 10:30 AM to 11:45 AM.  Interment Private.  

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made online to St. Christopher Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia, PA.