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Helen Nalley Weiler, accomplished artist

January 11, 2013

Helen Carbonaro Nalley Weiler, 87, of Bethany Beach, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes. Born in Washington, D.C., she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Josephine Carbonaro, who arrived in the United States from Sicily.

She married her first husband, the late Frank Garzione, in 1942; they were married 17 years and lived in New York, California and Maryland. In 1985, Helen married her second husband, the late Richard Weiler, and lived in Rockville, Md. for 20 years. Richard and Helen enjoyed their second home in Bethany Beach for many years, where Helen became a full time resident after Richard’s death in 2004. Helen was also predeceased by five siblings, Alfred, Mary, Margaret, Jimmy and Sandra.

Helen was an American artist and attended Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C. She began her art at a very early age and continued painting and crafting her whole life. She did portraits, landscapes and religious works. She also painted “Cats on Stones.” She loved to craft angels on seashells. Among her many accomplishments, she did restoration work for St. Mary’s Church in Rockville. She donated an oil painting to St. Mary’s in Rockville, in honor of the 125th anniversary of their first chapel.

Helen has done several portraits of past presidents, including Abraham Lincoln and his son Tad, which hangs in the White House today. She also painted President Clinton’s cat “Socks” on a stone, which was part of the White House for many years. She painted and donated the 14 Stations of the Cross that now hang in St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Bethany Beach. In her lifetime, she painted art numbering in the thousands.

Helen is survived by one brother, Joseph R. Carbonaro of Owens, Md.; three children, Frank Garzione (Ann), Barbara Reed (Jerry), and Charles Nalley (Susan). She is also survived by her grandchildren, Angela, Carmela, Luke, Carlina, and Sarah; great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Fiona, Alma and Sophie, as well as many nieces and nephews. Helen is lovingly remembered by her best friend, Virginia See.

A viewing will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., Monday, Jan. 14, at the Ocean View Chapel of Melson Funeral Services, 38040 Muddy Neck Road in Ocean View. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 15, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 691 Garfield Parkway, Bethany Beach. Interment will follow at Mariner’s Bethel Cemetery in Ocean View.

Flowers are welcomed or in honor of Helen, donations may be made to Bethany Town Cats, P.O. Box 911, Bethany Beach, DE 19930, local non-profit organization that she was involved with and supported.

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