Obituary of Helen Joan Grima

Helen was born in Malta, Europe on July 25, 1946, and emigrated to the United States at a young age with her mother Carmen and sister Josephine (“Fina”). Her father Charles had led them to the US, and they settled together in San Francisco. Ten years later, her beloved baby brother, Michael, was born. Helen and Josephine attended All Hallows Catholic School and St. Vincent’s High School. 

Daughters Stephanie (Torres), Graham (Scott) and Carla Diaz survive her. Her siblings include sister Josephine Simmons and brother Mike Grima (Lori).

Other surviving relatives include cousins, nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews in the Sacramento and San Francisco Bay Areas and the island of Malta.

While we mourn her loss, we remember the uniqueness of her contagious off-color humor. She was the life of the party, bringing laughter and playfulness to everyone she met.  She became dear friends with all she encountered, from grocery clerks to bus drivers and hairdressers to vendors she worked with. To say she was a people person is an understatement. She was indeed a people magnet.

From the time she graduated in 1965 until 2018 when she retired, Helen loved to work. Surviving breast cancer in 2005 without missing a day’s work through surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, running the Litho Process printing office in Alameda was her passion. Ultimately, fighting pancreatic cancer and diabetes proved to be too much for this spunky woman.

In her final months, Helen received tremendous support and prayers from around the world up to her final moments when she succumbed to her next journey peacefully and painlessly, on Sunday morning, April 2, 2023, in the Rocklin home she loved.

No services are planned currently. In lieu of flowers, please consider St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Helen’s favorite charity.

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