Helen Ierardi, a 76-year resident of Darien, passed away peacefully on May 28, 2026 at Maplewood at Orange. She was 102. Born in New Haven CT in 1924 she was youngest of six children of Giuseppe De Maio and Rosina Cipolletti. She attended Commercial High School and served as Executive Secretary to the Head of Engineering at Chance Vought, which designed and built the celebrated "Corsair" fighter bomber in WWII.
She married Pasquale (Pat) Anthony Ierardi, a pharmacist, in 1946 in New Haven CT. In 1950, Helen and Pat moved to Darien CT and Helen put $800 of her savings down on an $8,000 house where she lived until January 2026 with the amazing help of her devoted neighbors and the BOD, staff and volunteers of At Home in Darien.
In addition to being a devoted wife for 61 years, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Helen had many interests including watercolor and oil painting, gardening, traveling, antiquing, reading and cooking wonderful food for family and friends. In her unending quest for knowledge, she attended Lifetime Learners adult education courses at Norwalk Community College, lectures at the DCA and the Bruce Museum, as well as activities at the Darien Mather Senior Center. She was known for her tireless volunteerism at the DCA, Darien Board of Elections, and Darien Thrift Shop, as well as for her steadfast concern and love of her family, numerous friends and neighbors.
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Helen is survived by her son Robert Ierardi and his wife Beryl of Charlotte NC; daughter Karen Nash and her husband Dave of Shelton CT; five grandchildren, Drew Ierardi (Jen), Paige Johnson (Erik), Annie Blackburn (Brent), Jackie Nash (Heath Gill), Amy Nash and eight great grandchildren.
A Graveside Service and interment is planned for Fall 2026 at Spring Grove Cemetery, Darien CT. Donations in her memory may be made to At Home in Darien or Darien EMS - Post 53.
