Helen M. Rice – New Eagle

Helen M. Rice, 84, of New Eagle, died Sunday, April 14, 2019, in her home. She was born Nov. 1, 1934, in Uniontown, daughter of the late Boyd and Margaret Mullen Cutright. Helen was a graduate of Monongahela High School, Class of 1952. In her younger years, she was employed at McCrory’s 5&10 Cent Store and O’Delli’s Confectionery Store, both in Monongahela. After her children were born, she attended the Franco Beauty Academy and became a licensed beautician. For more than 50 years, she owned and operated Helen Rice’s Beauty Shop in New Eagle. Helen was a lifelong member of Riverview Baptist Church in New Eagle where she was formerly the financial secretary, a member of the board of trustees and a Sunday school teacher. She enjoyed bowling, baking cakes, cookies and bread and playing cards. She especially looked forward to every Saturday when she, her sisters and mother would go shopping together. Helen was the matriarch of her family and saw to it that everyone was taken care of. ​She is survived by two daughters, Ginny Casper of Washington and Darla and her husband Ron Smerilli of New Eagle; son, Scott and his wife Patrice Rice of Monongahela; five grandchildren, Justin Smerilli, Rachel Smerilli and Richi Filardi, Chad and his wife Krista Rice, Derek and his wife Brittany Rice, Courtney and her husband Aaron Cox; eight great-grandchildren, Kendal Morgan, Layne Rice, Mason Rice, Anabella Rice, Rosalie Cox, Mila Rice, Lia Filardi and Everly Cox; two brothers and four sisters, George and his wife Victoria Cutright of Washington, Belinda Rice of New Eagle, Iowa Hermann of Bentleyville, Gail and her husband Anthony Mordecki of New Eagle, Harold and his wife Jenny Cutright of Virginia, Patricia and her husband Wes Large of Monongahela; numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Ernest Rice Sr., who died April 16, 2014; son, James Ernest Rice Jr. who died April 16, 2004; son-in-law, Bob Casper; and two brothers-in-law, Samuel Rice and William Hermann. ​Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, 2019, at FRYE FUNERAL HOME INC., 427 W. Main St., Monongahela, where a funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 18, 2019, with the Rev. Bruce Moses officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Zion Cemetery, Monongahela. ​Memorial contributions may be made to Riverview Baptist Church, 405 Main St., New Eagle PA 15067. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.fryefuneralhome.com.