Helen Abookire Rufo-Sofra, 93, Co-Owner of Rufo Hardware
Helen Abookire Rufo-Sofra, age 93, passed away on June 9, 2009 at Island Lake Center in Longwood, Florida following a lengthy illness.
Helen was born Oct. 5, 1915 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Anthony and Marie Abookire but lived most of her life in Elyria, Ohio.
She married Columbus Rufo in 1938; together they owned and operated Rufo Hardware for over twenty-five years. Mr. Rufo passed away in 1973. In 1979 she married Patsy Sofra, formerly of Lorain, in California. They relocated to Longwood in 1981. Mr. Sofra passed away on May 15, 2009.
Survivors include daughters Patricia Zajkowski (nee Rufo) of Longwood, Florida, and Ann Marie Lombardi (nee Rufo) of Sanford, Florida. Her son Louis Rufo passed away in 1993. She also leaves six grandchildren including Michael Zajkowski of Virginia, Mark Zajkowski of Maine, Kristine Bunnell of Windermere, Florida, Brooke Kells of Orange City, Florida, Brandon Cortelessa of Pennsylvania, and Robin Robbins of North Carolina, and great grandchildren Katharine, Daniel, and Evan Zajkowski, along with Carly and Benjamin Bunnell.
Please join the family for graveside services on Monday August 24th at 11 a.m. in Calvary Cemetery, 555 North Ridge Road, Lorain. Reverend Mr. John Slatcoff, Permanent Deacon representing St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Elyria Township will officiate. Those attending the committal service are requested to gather inside the main gate of the cemetery at 10:45 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial contributions to either the Hospice of the Comforter in Altamonte Springs, Florida or to the charity of the donor’s choice.
The Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel of Lorain is coordinating funeral arrangements.
To leave on-line condolences for the family please visit a www.gluvna.net.