HELEN STRAUS

Helen Delich Straus, 99, passed away Sunday, May 11, 2025, in the Valley Hospice Care Center in Steubenville, OH.

She was born April 17, 1926, in Ironton, Minnesota, daughter of the late Luka & Evica Krtinich Delich.

Helen was very involved in the community of Smithfield where she served as co-chair for the Smithfield Apple Festival for several years and performed door-to-door canvas for the American Heart Fund and American Cancer Society, along with being a Red Cross volunteer for the Childrens’ Ward.

She held membership in the Smithfield Jr. Woman’s Club and the Smithfield Sr. Woman’s Club while assisting with both organizations’ many community campaigns and improvement projects. Helen was also a member of De-He- Wah-Mis Questers, serving as the State of Ohio 2nd Vice President. She sat on the Jefferson County Board of Health and the Carriage Inn Board. Other memberships include the Smithfield Historical Society and the Holy Resurrection Serbian Eastern Orthodox Church, Steubenville.

Helen was a 1943 Wintersville High School graduate and was Secretary for Straus Coal Company for several years.

Preceding Helen in death was her husband Fred, in 2005; sisters Mildred Wukelich, Mary Zelich, Delores Pasquarella and Naida Viltro, along with son in-law Burt Bacharach.

Helen is survived by her three daughters, Jayme (Patrick) Brady of Millersport, OH, Jodee (Julius) Verhovec of Smithfield, OH and Jane Bacharach of Aspen, CO; grandchildren Karey (Anthony) Ralph, Lewis Center, OH, Amie (Jonathan) Crunelle, Lewis Center, OH, Oliver Bacharach, Aspen, CO, Raleigh (Austin) Bacharach-Hope, Aspen, CO; great-grand daughters Gianna Ralph and Harper Crunelle; siblings Dorothy Delich Bossert of Steubenville, OH and John Delich of Palm Harbor, FL; sister in-law Mary Jane Ighnat, Toronto, OH. She also leaves behind many special nieces and nephews who held a special place in their hearts for “Aunt Helen”.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 14 from 4 PM to 7 PM at the J.E. Foster Funeral Home in Smithfield, OH. Helen’s funeral service will take place on Thursday at 11 AM at the Holy Resurrection Serbian Eastern Orthodox Church with additional visitation prior from 10 AM to 11 AM. The Very Rev. S. Rajko Kosic will officiate, and burial will follow in the Northern Cemetery in Smithfield.

Memorial donations in Helen’s name may be directed to Valley Hospice.