Helen Mae (Rothrock) (Legradi) Yocum, 90, formerly of Lewistown, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Sunday, November 19, 2023 at Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey. She was born in Lewistown on March 11, 1933 to Trilba Agatha Grace (nee Narehood) and Samuel E. Rothrock. Helen graduated from Yeagertown High School in 1951.

As a young woman, she worked at the lunch and soda counter at Rea & Derrick Drug Store on Market Street in Lewistown where she met her future husband, John (Jack) J. Legradi. They were married in February of 1956, and she moved to the Roxborough section of Philadelphia where Jack and his extended family lived. Together they started their family, having 4 children: Susan, Brenda, Kathryn, and Michael.

In 1964, when their marriage ended, Helen had the courage and encouragement, love, and support of her family in her hometown of Lewistown to raise her 4 children (ages 2 to 8) as a single parent. Her mother welcomed all of them into her home, and many of Helen’s siblings and their families lived within walking distance in the “Lewistown Heights” neighborhood. This is where her love and appreciation of family deepened and became her main focus. She valued her family more than anything. She worked at night and on weekends so that she could see her children off to school and encourage them to pursue their education. She was always so grateful for the help she received along the way and worked very hard to achieve her independence. In 1967, she was able to move into an apartment at McCoy Manor with her children. That is where she met her lifelong friends, Joyce (Meyers) McLaughlin and Darlene Stine.

For many years, Helen worked at Leoras’ Cafeteria on S. Brown Street in the middle of the downtown shopping area in Lewistown. She was always friendly, hard-working, and very fond of the Leoras family, her coworkers, and customers – so much so that she had her 3 daughters work at the cafeteria after school and on Saturdays when they were in high school.

As her children became young adults, she met her future husband and best friend, Rudie Yocum, while waitressing at Corkin’s Diner on Monument Square. Rudie brought love and laughter to her life. They shared the same love of family and enjoyed many years together in their home in Burnham. They were married for 4 years before Rudie’s passing in 1996.

Helen was an excellent cook and meticulous housekeeper. She was an expert at crossword puzzles and loved the music of Nat King Cole, The Platters, and John Denver. She thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her family, whether visiting with her children and grandchildren, taking bus trips to Atlantic City with Rudie’s sisters Peg O’Hara and Mary Yocum, or making her legendary potato salad for her and Rudie’s family picnics and reunions at Kish and Reeds Gap Parks.

Helen was always so generous and gave as much as she could to others. If she had two nickels, she would give one to those in need. For years, she raised funds for the March of Dimes annual appeal and volunteered at the Lewistown Hospital Gift Shop. She recently said that all she ever wanted to be in life was a good mother. She was an amazing mother who exuded complete selflessness, genuine kindness, and unending love.

Helen is survived by her sister, Sandra Rothrock, her brother Steven Rothrock (Deborah), brother-in-law, Gene Wheeler, daughters, Susan (Ed Shanahan) and Kathryn (Jeffrey Mantell), son, Michael J. Legradi, son-in-law, David McCarthy, and many beloved nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She is predeceased by her husband, Rudie W. Yocum, Jr., parents, Trilba Agatha Grace and Samuel E. Rothrock, sisters, Charlotte June Barker, Betty Irene (James Coffey), Evelyn Sue Wheeler, and Janet Beverly Bousum, brothers, Richard and Nelson (Arlene) Rothrock, daughter, Brenda McCarthy, and daughters-in-law, Lori Seiler and Lori Legradi.

A viewing will be held from 1 to 2 p.m., Saturday, November 25, 2023, at Hoenstine Funeral Home, 75 Logan St., Lewistown, with a funeral service to follow at 2 p.m.

Interment will take place at Lind Memorial Cemetery.

Online condolences may be offered to the family at www .hellerhoenstinefuneralhome.com.