LONGMEADOW - Helena E. (Wilga) Branciforte, 93, passed peacefully on September 9 surrounded by her loving family.

Helena, known as Sandy, was born in Ware May 18, 1926, a daughter of the late Michael and Anna (Jurasz) Wilga. She was a resident of Palmer for most of her life before moving to Longmeadow several years ago. Until the passing of her husband, Dr. John T Branciforte in 1976, Sandy acted as his office manager. A former president of the local Women's Club as well as the Women's Auxilary at Wing Memorial Hospital, Sandy was actively involved with many charities. An accomplished golfer, she was a founding member of Elmcrest Country Club and a former club champion. She leaves her son, John T Branciforte Jr. and his partner Ann Wallenius of Longmeadow; her daughter, Deborah Fowler and her husband William of Houston, Texas and two grandchildren Annabel Grasselli Fowler Gatto and her husband Philip of New York City and William H Fowler III of Houston, Texas as well as her sister-in-law Pandora Skubel of Cromwell, Connecticut. Besides her husband, Sandy was predeceased by her siblings William, Theodore, Edwin Wilga, Jane Krusek and Michelina Kalafarski. The funeral will be held at West Springfield Curran-Jones Funeral Home Monday September 16 at 9:30 a.m. with Liturgy of Christian Burial at St Mary's Church, Longmeadow at 11:00 a.m. followed by burial in St Thomas Cemetery in Palmer.

Visitng hour will be held Monday morning from 9:30 - 10:30. For more details please visit curranjones.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.