And I know I'll take some falls,
But with the Good Lord as my Captain,
I can make it through them all.
And I will sail my vessel ‘til the river runs dry.
Like a bird upon the wind, these waters are my sky.
I'll never reach my destination if I never try.
So I will sail my vessel 'til the river runs dry."
~ Garth Brooks, The River
Helen Marie Forgione Bradfield was born in Belrose, NY on September 19, 1972.
She grew up in Denville, NJ and graduated from Morris Catholic High School in 1990.
She went on to earn her bachelor's and master's degrees from Kean University, where
she was a founding sister of Theta Phi Alpha National Sorority, Beta Omega chapter.
Helen is preceded in death by her parents Thomas Forgione and Judith Whalen_.
Helen is survived by her loving husband Guy Bradfield and her beloved son, Sean Bradfield,
Her three brothers Tom Forgione, his wife Susan, and their sons Jack and Nicholas, of Denville, NJ.
Daniel Forgione, his wife Amanda, and their daughters Arya and Evangeline, of Valencia, CA.
and Patrick Forgione of Livingston, NJ.
Helen and Guy first met each other in 1990, at Dover General Hospital, where they both worked.
She asked Guy to fix her watch. He asked for a kiss in return, and they fell in love. They were
engaged on Christmas Eve of 1995, and married on February 9, 1997. They shared their love of
Autumn, Halloween, Christmas, Disney, food, movies, and their son, who to their “surprise”, was
born to them on July 6, 1999. A devoted Garth Brooks and NY Yankees fan, Helen married a
Billy Joel and NY Mets fan, but still passed her passion for her favorite singer and favorite team
on to Guy & Sean.
Helen spent her career as a special educator and was a lifelong advocate for people with
disabilities. Helen's adult life included more than her fair share of trials and tribulations, and
many hospitalizations, for herself, and her son, yet she followed her heart and continued to
cultivate her many friendships, some of which were lifelong. Helen's spirit of perseverance got
her through pain and loss, time and time again and she personified her sorority's motto,
"Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring." - St. Catherine of Sienna.
For my beautiful wife, I love you hun.
“And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end. The way it all would go.
Our lives are better left to chance.
I could have missed the pain
But I'd have had to miss the dance.”
~ Garth Brooks, The Dance
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance and/or
any Covid-19 relief fund.