Tegwen N. (Jones) Helt Sacco

Tegwen Novello Jones, Helt, Sacco went home to Heaven at the age of 96 on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020. She was born Dec. 28, 1923 in a small coal mining village of Bedlinog, South Wales, UK, the daughter of William John and Blodwin (Joseph) Jones. She was surrounded by her family when God called her home.

Tegwen was a registered nurse in Cheltingham, England at age 17 during WWII. It was then that she met the love of her life, and father to her two boys Michael and Gary Helt. Ernest Helt,  an American GI in the US Army, her husband fought at Normandy and in Europe for the United States.

They were married Sept. 1, 1945 until his death in November of 1971. Tegwen was also preceded in death by her siblings, Lewis, Dinah, Emlyn, Brindmore, Ronald and Ann; her grandson, Greg (Michael) and her second husband, Paul Sacco.

Surviving Tegwen are her sons, Michael (Linda) Helt and Gary (Justine) Helt; seven grandchildren, Kelli, Tegwen, Christina, Megan, Tara, Alaina and Darci; fifteen great-grandchildren including Kaleb, Taya, Kira, Chanden, Jayden, Jarren, Jaxson, Tessa, Colin, Tylan, Taven, Maelona, Chyanne, Oren and Ruby and one great-great-grandchild, Mila.

Tegwen attended the Smithfield Presbyterian Church and was a secretary-treasurer for the Sunday School, a member of the church choir and an Elder for many years. She previously worked at the Smithfield Post Office and the Jefferson Co. Treasurer’s Office for Treasurer Bud Endinger and Jack Nolan. She spent many years on the Jeff. Co. Fair Staff with Walter Rose as Chairman. She became the first organizer and chairman of the Smithfield Food Bank in the 1980’s. Her success earned her local and national awards in her efforts to help feed those in need.

She had many, many friends and was always ready to help anyone at any time. Her love of God and her Lord Jesus began as a small girl at the Missionary Baptist Church in her hometown. Every day of her life she took time to pray and help those in need. She prayed daily for her family, went to God about her friends, the sick and needy and the United States.

Teg had an especially close group of friends including, Ruth McCain, Mary Mehall, Violet Elliot, Doris Tucker, Caroline Pietrangelo, Ella Maxwell and Deloris Wayt. They stuck together through thick and thin and unfortunately all have passed on before her.

Teg was a selfless lady. She was a shining star who lit up all the lives that knew her. As a wife, mother and grandmother, she always brought her best, and never backed down from her life’s experiences or challenges. She spoke of her life in humble terms, coming out of her small village, to her working  as a nurse during the war and then moving to what she thought was the greatest nation on earth, the USA.

Tegwen’s name means ‘Fair Flower’ in the Welsh language. She always told her children and grandchildren, ‘How blessed she was because of Jesus.' It is the end for Tegwen but a new life, beginning in God’s great creation.

Due to the Covid crisis there will be a private viewing for her family at the J.E. Foster Funeral Home in Smithfield, OH. A graveside service, conducted by Pastor Tim Russell, will follow in the Holly Memorial Gardens where she will be buried next to her husband, Ernest E. Helt.

The Helt family would like to thank all the doctors and nurses and most especially their Lord God Jesus, who gave them Tegwen, his blessings and love through it all. Teg’s favorite scripture was Psalms 46:10 ‘Be still and know that I am God.’

Memorial donations may be directed to the Smithfield Food Pantry PO BOX 482 Smithfield, OH 43948.