Gilda Ann Helmken, of Staatsburg, NY, died after a short illness on Wednesday, January 4, 2012, at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, NY at the age of 84. Long-time resident in the Morris County area, she had lived with her daughter in Staatsburg since 2006.
Gilda is survived by her daughter, Gayle Lynn McDonald of Staatsburg, NY; son, David Helmken of Rockaway, NJ; sisters, Johanna Ronco of Phoenix, AZ, Ursula Lanza of Morris Plains, NJ, brother, Anthony Lanza of Boonton, NJ, two grandson, two granddaughters and one great-granddaughter.
Gilda was a homemaker until 1976 whereby she became a medical benefits manager with Prudential Insurance Company in Parsippany until she retired in 1991.