Helen Nemeth Tallia

Helen Nemeth Tallia, age 90, passed away on Friday, February 25, 2022, at Heritage Healthcare Center.  She was born on Wednesday, December 16, 1931, in Albany, Louisiana.  She was the fifth child and fourth daughter of Hungarian immigrants, the late Frank and Mary Gorscos Nemeth.  She was a graduate of Albany High School, Class of 1950, where she played Girls Varsity Basketball.

She married Frank S. Tallia on Sunday, June 20, 1954, at St. Margaret Catholic Church in Albany, in a double wedding with her sister Annie and Frank’s twin brother Vito.  Helen and Frank made their home in Hammond while Annie and Vito settled in Albany.  The two couples were very close and went everywhere together until Frank’s death in November 2016.

Helen was a retired bus driver for the Tangipahoa Parish School System, with 30 years of service.  She cared for and was loved by her students long after they no longer rode the bus.  She also farmed strawberries with Frank for nearly 50 years.

She enjoyed cooking all of her Hungarian and Italian recipes for her family, with big Sunday meals we will cherish always.  She baked her Hungarian pastries and Italian cookies every Christmas and shared them with family and friends.

Helen was a member of Holy Ghost Catholic Church.  In her devotion to the Blessed Mother, she recited up to four Rosaries a day.

As the matriarch of our family, she holds a special place in each of our hearts and we will always love and miss her.

Helen is survived by her two daughters, Cheryl Tallia Schiro and Kathy Tallia Costa; two sons, Frank Salvador Tallia, Jr. and wife Sheila Threeton Tallia, and Richard Phillip Tallia and wife Melissa Kelly Tallia; grandchildren:  Raymond Keith “Ray” Costa, Rachel Frances Costa, Miranda Tallia Morgan (Ryan), Brindley Jeannine Tallia, Richard Phillip “Richie” Tallia, II (Stephanie) and Frank Salvador “Trey” Tallia, III; great- grandsons, Kohen Phillip Tallia, Slade Anthony Morgan and Brooks Phillip Tallia; sister Annie Nemeth Tallia (Vito); and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Frank Salvador Tallia, Sr.; infant grandson, Adam Colby Tallia; sisters, Mary Nemeth Gaydos (Frank), Elizabeth Nemeth Ivanyisky (Louis), Julia Nemeth Maruschak (John) and Irene Nemeth Hagan (Earl); brother Joseph Nemeth; and sons-in-law, Joseph Schiro and Raymond Costa.

Visitation will be held at Harry McKneely and Son Funeral Home, 2000 N. Morrison Blvd., Hammond, on Monday, February 28, 2022, from 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Recitation of the rosary will be at 7:00 p.m.  Visitation will continue at the funeral home Tuesday, March 1, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.  A mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Ghost Catholic Church.  Entombment will follow in Rose Memorial Park Mausoleum.

Special thanks to the staff of Heritage Healthcare Center for the love and care given to our Mother during her stay there.

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