Obituary of Helen Cossette

Helen Cossette died peacefully on December 18 at Norwalk Hospital, following a brief illness. Born in Stamford, Helen was the daughter of Elizabeth Lasko Gacher and John Gacher. A graduate of Stamford High School (at age 16!), Helen was a bookkeeper for over 50 years until she retired in 1997 to start a new career, caring for her beloved grandson. (She didn’t trust day care centers or nannies.) She also volunteered at St. Bridget Church as a religious education assistant alongside her daughter and took special pride in working with the first communion class for 6 years. She will be remembered as our family Matriarch, for her hugs and homemade chicken noodle and beef soups and five-course Sunday dinners. She was a second mother to everyone who walked through the front door of her little pink and white house on Dartley Street. Helen never mastered rolling a proper Hungarian stuffed cabbage, but she could remember the phone number and address of every customer at The Carpet Center, where she worked for 20 years. A quick wit with a brilliant mind, she loved Betty Grable, old 1940s musicals on AMC, and bad made-for-TV movies on Lifetime, much to Daddy’s dismay. Her secret wish was to be a Rockette, and she delighted in yearly trips to see the Christmas show at Radio City from the third row, where she could count and marvel at the sequins on the dancers’ tap shoes. Helen was predeaceased by her parents, husband Robert, sister Jennie Vardzik, brother Stephen Gacher, and beloved nephew Rick Gacher. She is survived by her daughter Susan Cossette of Minneapolis and her grandson John Morgan Eng of Darien. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews, three great nieces, two great-great nephews, a great-great niece, and cherished godchildren. A special thank you to Jeffrey Eng for his loving care of her during her illness. She loved you like a son. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Lawrence Funeral Home. Burial will be private, and a celebration of Helen’s life will be held at a later date when we can all safely hug one another. Memorial donations in Helen’s honor may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. You’re roller skating with Daddy, Ma. We love you. Your life mattered to so many. You did just great. Invictus.