Mrs. Helen D. Jones, 96, a longtime Utica resident of Harper St., joined her loved ones in Heaven on Monday February 7, 2011. She passed away peacefully at the Presbyterian Home in New Hartford. Helen was born in Utica on December 31, 1914 the daughter of John and Mary (Klimczak) Pietras and received her education in Utica schools. In 1934, Helen married Stanley L. Jones, a union of 44 years until Stanley's death in 1978. For several years, Helen was employed with Fort Schuyler Knitting Mills. She was a devoted parishioner of the former Sacred Heart Church in Utica. Helen always honored God, and her family. She was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother whose true passion in life was her family. Helen always set a good example for those who knew her. She had a zest for life that was contagious to those around her. One of her greatest joys in life was raising her children and helping raise three of her grandchildren. She is greatly adored by her grandchildren and she took great care of them from the time they were very young. They have many fond memories of the times they shared together cooking and baking, sewing, playing "beauty shop" and "store", trips to the playground and swimming pool, and endless laughter. She had a gift with children and the patience of a saint. Above all, she was a loving and compassionate friend whose humor and unconditional love will leave those who knew her with stories, laughter, and love for a life time. She will be remembered for her smile, quick wit, resiliency, inner strength and positive outlook on life. As she often said she "takes everything in stride". To know Helen Jones is to love her. She will be greatly missed by all fortunate enough to have known her and she will live on in our hearts forever. Mrs. Jones is survived by three sons and two daughters-in-law, Robert S. Jones of NY Mills, NY., John Paul and Anna Marie Jones of Frankfort, NY and William and Yung Hi Jones of Colorado Springs, CO; 10 grandchildren including three grandchildren who were especially close with Helen, JacLyn Jones and her husband Timothy Halligan, Julianne Falk and her husband Jason and Jonathan Jones and his beloved Katherine Nolan, and many great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her infant daughter, Geraldine Jones, two sisters, Julie Fiore and Sophie Amen and two brothers, Joseph Pietras and Francis Pietras. Mrs. Jones' funeral will be held on Saturday February 12, 2011 at 9:15 a.m. at the Heintz Funeral Home, 1517 Whitesboro St., Utica and 10:00 at Holy Trinity Church in Utica, where her mass of Christian burial will be celebrated. Interment will be in Crown Hill Memorial Park in Kirkland. Calling hours for family and friends are Friday from 6:00-8:00 p.m.