BOARDMAN – Helen C. Johnson, 93, formerly of Lowellville, died Wednesday morning at Shepherd of the Valley in Boardman.

Helen was born on Christmas Day in 1916 in Struthers, a daughter of John and Anna Lucas Gura. She was raised in Struthers and moved to Lowellville in 1956.

Helen worked in accounts receivable at Prentice Hall Book Publishing Company in New York City and later in the billing department for Automatic Sprinkler Corp., in Youngstown.

An active member of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church in Lowellville, Helen served as a Lector, Eucharistic Minister, and Sacristan. She also served on Parish Council and was a member of the Holy Rosary Ladies Guild and the Cursillo Movement.

Her husband, Paul V. Johnson, whom she married July 12, 1956, died January of 1987.

She leaves one daughter, Jeanne (Richard) Eastop of Toledo; two sons, Donald Johnson of Waverly, N.Y. and Thomas Johnson of Slidell, La.; five sisters, Regina Graygo of Struthers, Ann Marie Fabilli of The Villages, Fla., Monica Gura and Marian Gura, both of Newton, Mass. and Kathleen (Dean) Montgomery of Canton; one brother, James A. (Joan) Gura of Ennis, Texas; eight grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Besides her parents and husband, Helen was preceded in death by two sisters, Felicitas Luke and Julia Gura; and five brothers, Emil, John, Peter, Lawrence, and Norman Gura.

Helen was a remarkable woman. She was strong and compassionate, and will be remembered for her deep dedication and true love to her husband Paul. She was a woman of great faith, was very disciplined, and felt strongly about bringing others to the word of God. Helen’s no-nonsense love was strong and respectful of others, always seeking to bring out the best in everyone. Her door was always open to family, friends, neighbors and those in need.

Special thanks to the staff of Shepherd of the Valley Nursing Home, the Ed and Becki Chaffee family, and Mark and Karen Luke for Helen’s care in recent years.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church with Fr. Nicholas Shori officiating. Interment will follow at Holy Rosary Cemetery.

Friends will be received Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home in Lowellville, where the prayer service will be held Monday at 10 a.m.

Contributions may be made to Our Lady of Holy Rosary Church, 131 W. Wood St., Lowellville, OH 44436 or to the American Cancer Society/Boardman Relay for Life 525 N. Broad St., Canfield, OH 44406.