Obituary of Helen Marie Toma

Warren: Helen Marie Toma passed away on Saturday, September 22nd at home with her family. Born in Jersey City, she graduated from St. Michael's High School. She attended Fordham University in New York City, graduating in 1948 with two degrees in English and Math. She met her husband, Joseph (Joe) Toma on May 15, 1950 while they were both working at Equitable Life Assurance in New York City. She was the co-founder of Astrolab, Inc., a manufacturing and design company in Warren, NJ. She was an active member of the Altar Rosary Society and taught CCD at St. John Vianney Church in Colonia, NJ. She was a dedicated member of a close community of friends in Colonia.. Helen was an avid reader and enjoyed traveling the world with her beloved husband, Joe. Helen adored her four children, six granddaughters, and one great-granddaughter. Helen was pre-deceased by her parents, James and Florence (Dean) Scanlon, her sisters Catherine (Scanlon) McCormack and Veronica (Scanlon) Rogers and brother William Scanlon. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Joseph Toma, and her children, Veronica (Toma) DeBruin and her husband John, Judy Toma, Mary (Toma) Ceres and her husband Mark, and Stephen Toma and his wife Laura. She is also survived by her six grandchildren, Michelle DeBruin and her partner Aaron Stienglass, Jennifer (DeBruin) DiBella and her husband Michael DiBella, Kimberly Ceres, Kristina Ceres, Elisabeth Toma, and Juliet Toma and one great-granddaughter Althea Stienglass. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, September 26 at 10 am from the Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung, followed by an 11 am Mass of Resurrection at The Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Bernardsville and entombment at Holy Cross Cemetery in Basking Ridge. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 12 noon to 2 pm and 4 to 7 pm. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to the Alzheimer's Association Greater New Jersey, 400 Morris Avenue, Suite 251, Denville, NJ 07834.