Helen Grace Giovacchini

A funeral Mass for Helen Grace Giovacchini, 69, will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. John the Baptist Mission in Smith.

A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today at St. John the Baptist.

Mrs. Giovacchini died Sept. 18, 2005, at South Lyon Medical Center in Yerington.

She was born Aug. 24, 1936, in Winnemucca, to Charles and Carol Hillyer.

She graduated from high school in Winnemucca in 1954 and then attended Reno Business College. In high school, she participated in the glee club.

After graduating from business college, she worked in a law office in Winnemucca.

She married Lloyd Giovacchini on Jan. 11, 1969, in Carson City.

Mrs. Giovacchini moved to Carson City and worked in the office of Gov. Grant Sawyer as assistant secretary.

She later worked for John Koontz in the Secretary of State's Office.

She moved to Yerington and worked in the law office of Diehl, Reconzone, Evans & Smart.

She worked in the district attorney's office when Stanley Smart was district attorney and was a secretary for the Lyon County School Board until her retirement in 1992.

She also worked for the law offices of Hertbeck, Herzick & Jackson of Gardnerville and was secretary for Holy Family Catholic Church in Yerington until 2003.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Buddy and Lester "Leslie."

Among her survivors are her husband of Smith; sisters Shirley Amos of Fallon, Ruth Jensen of Reno and Carol Newsom of Woodland, Calif., and numerous extended family members.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriner's Hospital for Children, 3160 Geneva St., Los Angeles, CA 90020.

Burial will be at Hillcrest Cemetery in Smith.

Freitas Rupracht Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.