Obituary of Helen Stack

Helen Arvay Stack passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on Thursday, April 24 of complications from a stroke she suffered several weeks ago. She was celebrated in death as she was celebrated in life with her loving family members close by. Helen was a longtime resident of Soquel and Scotts Valley where she was able to enjoy the constant company of her children and grandchildren, and extended family. Helen was born in 1919 to Stephen and Sophia Kun Arvay, Hungarian immigrants, in Detroit, Michigan where she grew up. She attended Ecorse High School and Grace Hospital School of Nursing where she earned her RN degree and worked for the Private Registry. She married Charles Stack in 1943 and after the war they moved to Springfield, Massachusetts where they started a family. They moved to Rochester, New York where they completed their family. In 1959, they moved across the United States and settled in Sunnyvale, CA for the next 25 years, raising their children. Helen returned to nursing and practiced psychiatric nursing at Agnews State Hospital. In 1984, she and her husband moved to Soquel to be close to their children and to take an active role in raising their grandchildren and great-grandchildren who brought them endless pleasure. Helen was an active, involved member of the Congregational Church of Soquel where she found continued peace and joy, particularly after the passing of her husband Charlie in 1991. Helen was also a breast cancer survivor. Helen was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Charlie, and her eldest daughter, Janice Stack Newhouse. Helen is survived by her sister, Susan O'Brien, of Sacramento, CA, and her two surviving children, Catherine Stack Oster of Scotts Valley, and Charles Thomas Stack of San Jose. She was greatly loved by her three grandchildren: Kirsten Oster Toland of Beale AFB, CA, Nicholas Oster of Loma Linda, CA, and Julie Newhouse of San Francisco, CA, and her beautiful, adoring great-grandchildren John and Jackson Toland, and Finn Oster, all of whom she read to and played with endlessly. A private family memorial will be held in June in celebration of her life and her sister's 100th birthday. She will be laid to rest in a private ceremony beside her beloved husband Charlie in Soquel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Helen's name to the Congregational Church of Soquel, 4951 Soquel Drive Soquel, CA 95073-2430.