Helen K. Tsutras

Helen K. Tsutras, 89, of Gainesville, Virginia, returned home to be reunited with her parents, and her husband Frank, on early Sunday morning, October 11th, 2020. After several weeks at Fairfax INOVA Hospital, she was transferred to Lake Manassas Rehabilitation Center in Gainesville, Virginia following 3 procedures to correct complications due to Pancreatic cancer. She was unable to recover and passed away quietly in her sleep. Helen was born on December 2nd, 1930 in Roanoke, Virginia to Athanasios and Ekaterini Kouros. After coming to America from their native Greece, they settled in Roanoke and raised Helen as an only child. She attended grade school, high school, and business school in Roanoke. Helen met Frank at a young age, and by their mid 20’s, they married and moved to Morgantown, West Virginia so that Frank could complete his term at University. Helen worked as a Dental Assistant in Morgantown during their stay there. They then moved to Frank’s hometown of Williamson, West Virginia, where they lived until 1965. Frank was in the Air Force and Helen was raising their son Dean Frank Tsutras who had been born in 1957. In 1965, Frank took a job on Capitol Hill and they all moved to Alexandria, Virginia where Frank and Helen became deeply involved with the St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church community for decades. Helen was President of The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, and sang for many years in the Church Choir. Many consider her to be a 2nd or surrogate Mother to them. She was caring and loving to all, her entire life. After Frank retired from the House of Representatives, they moved to Williamsburg, Virginia where they stayed for 20 years. Helen had so many friends in Northern Virginia and in Williamsburg. 5 years ago they returned back to Northern Virginia and settled in Prince William County. Frank passed last Thanksgiving, and Helen lived with her son Dean and his wife Maria for the remainder of her life. Helen was an only child, a loving wife, Mother, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother. She is survived by her son Dean, his Wife Maria (Gainesville, VA), Granddaughter Alenah Riffle and her husband Grant Riffle (Nokesville, VA), Grandson Tino Tsutras (Atlanta, GA), Great Granddaughter Sofiah Riffle, and two step Great-Grandchildren Ethan Riffle, and Tyler Riffle, all of Nokesville, VA. The viewing will be held on Thursday, October 15th, from 6:00-8:00 pm, at Pierce Funeral Home, 9609 Center Street in Manassas, VA. The funeral service will begin at 11:00 am, Friday, October 16th, at St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church, 3149 Glen Carlyn Rd., Falls Church, VA. The interment and graveside services will be held at 10am on Saturday October 17th, one day following the funeral service, at Stonewall Memory Gardens in Manassas, VA, US. Route 29 (inside Manassas National Battlefield Park, between Centreville and Gainesville). Thank you in advance to all who can attend either ceremony. CoVID has made things difficult and we understand how this may affect your attendance to any of these services. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. Special thanks to the staff and caregivers at Lake Manassas Rehabilitation Center in Gainesville, VA for their dedication and compassion during Helen’s post-surgical treatment. Also, thank you to Pierce Funeral Home for their courteous and compassionate care of both Helen and Frank Tsutras in the last year. We thank our family, extended family, and many friends for their support during this difficult time.

Helen K. Tsutras

December 2, 1930 - October 11, 2020