Loretta Y. "Rita" Helman

Loretta Y. “Rita” Helman, 83, of Wellington, Ohio, passed away peacefully on June 12, 2026, at Keystone Pointe Nursing Home in LaGrange. She was born on February 14, 1943, to the late Zimmery and Margaret (York) Reed.

Family was everything to Rita, she lived for them and especially cherished time spent with her grandchildren. She also loved her animals and thrift shopping with her daughters. Rita had worked at Cleveland City Forge for nearly 50 years as a Quality Control Specialist.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Tammy Willets, Candy (Mark) Knittel, Tonya (Chad Oakes) Frame, Michele (Ernie) Wetherbee; sister, Joann Stacy; grandchildren, Joshua (Melissa) Willets, Ashley (Cory) Willets, Devin (Nicole) Justice, Alexis (Chris) Lange, Sarah (Amit) Deshpande, Madison (Spencer) Constable, and Kaleigh (Wayne) Frame; great grandchildren, Emma, Kinsley, Micah, Noah, Savannah, Dawson, Serenity, Kingsley, and Kash; and cat, “Kaia”.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Leroy in 2024, siblings, Wilma, Thelma, Connard, and Jim; and grandson, Cody Wallace.

A celebration of life is being planned for a later date. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Lorain County Dog Kennel, 301 Hadaway Court, Elyria, OH 44035, or the Friendship Animal Protective League of Lorain County, 8303 Murray Ridge Road, Elyria, OH 44035-4746. Online expressions of sympathy may be made by visiting: www.eastmanfuneralhome.com