Helen T. La Porta, 88 of Manasquan, died on Friday, February 24th, 2023.

She was an avid cook and loved cooking all types of cuisine but Italian food was her specialty. Her stuffed peppers, eggplant parmigiana and Pastina were a family favorite. The term ‘made with love’ rang true when it came to Helen and her cooking. Helen loved to watch all types of cooking shows, especially “Lidia’s Kitchen”.

For many years, Thursday night dinners at her brother’s restaurant Leggett’s in Manasquan was something she always looked forward to. Helen was in charge of making her highly requested biscotti for dessert. She enjoyed her trip to Italy and winters at her home in Spring Hill, FL.

Helen also loved her talk shows such as the Maury Povich Show and the Jerry Springer Show. She spent a lot of time with her grandchildren and would do anything for them, she was always their biggest supporter. She spoke Italian and Spanish, enjoyed playing the piano and listening to Frank Sinatra. She loved to go antiquing and to garage sales on the weekends.

She was a Registered Nurse for many years at Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital, Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center and the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) before retiring.

Helen was pre-deceased by her husband, Louis La Porta in 1991; her brothers Andrew Paglia, John Paglia and William Paglia.

Surviving are her children Thomas (Anne) La Porta of Colts Neck, NJ, Louis (Stefani) La Porta of Spring Hill, FL, Rosalie La Porta of Jackson, NJ and Carolyn (Keith) Barfoot of Tinton Falls, NJ. Five grandchildren, Frank, Gabrielle, Thomas, Joseph and Grace. As well as her brother George Paglia of Staten Island, NY.

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 3rd, 12 noon until the funeral service at 2 pm at the Holmdel Funeral Home, 26 S. Holmdel Road, Holmdel, NJ. Entombment will follow at Holmdel Cemetery and Mausoleum, Holmdel, NJ.

To share a favorite memory please do so by visiting her page of tributes at www.holmdelfuneralhome.com.