Helen Youngman

Helen Youngman, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 2, 2020 at the age of 87. Her family was by her side via Webex and her granddaughter, Lauren, was playing a favorite movie of theirs, “Some Like It Hot,” starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon. Helen was born on April 10, 1933 in the Bronx, New York at the heart of the great depression. Helen was the third youngest of four siblings (Vincent, Nancy and Frank) born to Sicilian parents, Anthony Ettari and Mary Carpino, who had immigrated from Palermo, Italy and became American citizens when they arrived at Ellis Island.

Helen recalled many times of economic hardship growing up as a young girl in the 1930’s. She mentioned her family often ate oatmeal for dinner because that was all they could afford for a family of six. Although life was difficult, family and friendships were strong. Helen was very close to her older sister, Nancy, and respected her opinion and thoughts on many subjects. At the age of nine, Helen met her neighbor and lifelong friend, Ramona (Glickman) Gandelman, with whom she remained in contact her entire life. An intelligent and devoted student, Helen graduated from high school a year earlier than her classmates.

Developing a lifelong love of 1940’s big band music and captivated by New York’s arts and theatre scene, Helen and Nancy danced at the United Service Organizations, Inc. (USO) which provided live entertainment to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. It was at the USO where Helen met her future husband, Robert James Youngman, a U.S. Navy Radar/Surveillance Sensor Operator, and a combat veteran of the Korean War. Upon their marriage on January 24, 1954 in New York, Helen moved across the United States to live with her husband in Spokane, Washington, where Robert had been born and raised. To support her new husband as he went to college and finished his education, Helen worked at The Texas Company (Texaco), an American oil subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, and then at The Spokesman-Review newspaper which first published under its present name on June 24, 1894. It remains Spokane’s sole remaining daily publication.

While living in Spokane, Robert and Helen gave birth to two daughters, Theresa Jean Youngman, and Carol Ann Youngman. The family later moved to Lynnwood, a suburb of Seattle, Washington, where Robert worked as an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Revenue/Special Agent, and Helen became a homemaker and took care of raising the girls. Robert’s employment later transferred him to Denver, Colorado, and the family settled in Littleton. Helen later went to work as an Executive Secretary at Lockheed Martin Corporation (then Martin Marietta Denver Aerospace). Helen worked on the U.S. Air Force Peacekeeper project and was deeply respected by her co-workers there, including Clarence Bunnell, who described her as the most saintly angel of a human being he had ever known.

Helen enjoyed taking care of her granddaughters, Brittani, Lauren and Tiara, during the weekdays. She was always available at the end of the school day to make sure that the girls had a ride home from school and was usually able to concoct an excuse to bake cookies with them.

The girls all have a favorite memory of their Grandma Helen during these early years. Brittani has fond memories of Grandma taking the girls to the Nordstrom anniversary sales where Helen would buy the girls special beads in the shape of a rabbit, high heel shoe, carrot, ballet slipper, dessert, etc. to string on a rainbow bracelet. Brittani still has her bracelet. Grandma used to take Lauren to the 1890’s homestead farm in Littleton, where staff and volunteers dressed up in period-appropriate costumes. Lauren would swing on the wooden swing and feed the sheep and ducks. It was a favorite pastime of both Lauren and her Grandma. Tiara loved watching Shirley Temple (young Tiara’s favorite actress) movies with Grandma after school. Tiara tried to keep a watchful eye out for the exact moment Grandma would sneak into the kitchen to prepare some homemade pasta for lunch. Tiara recalls Grandma being too clever to ever get caught in the act.

She had only been in a dementia care facility for about a year and a half when Helen tested positive for the Covid-19 virus and was transferred to Swedish Medical Center for aggressive treatment. While Covid-19 kept the family out of the hospital, Helen was able to spend her remaining days with the family she so loved through Webex technology. Much of this time was spent watching movies and listening to the music of Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and others.

Helen is survived by her brother Frank Ettari; her daughters; granddaughters, Brittani, Lauren and Tiara; her “favorite” son-in-law, Mark; Nephew Bill Ciaccio (Karen Lamp); Niece Elaine Ettari; Nephew Vincent Ettari; Nephew Anthony Ettari, Niece Jean (Ettari) Salanitro, Niece Julia (Ettari) Bartlett, Nephew Michael Ettari, and Nephew Frank Ettari, along with many loving Great Nieces and Nephews. Her family was touched by her unselfish nature, kindness, generosity, and deep love for others. Helen’s surviving family members thank all of you for respecting their private grieving time for Helen. She was a remarkable woman and we appreciate your many overwhelming expressions of love and support.