Helen Salerno

Mrs. Helen (Barden) Salerno, of Peabody, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on December 25th, 2025, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, to the late Joseph and Wanda Barden.

Helen was the beloved wife of Joseph S. Salerno, with whom she shared 68 years of marriage. Together, they built a life rooted in deep love, faith, and an unwavering dedication to family. She was a cherished sister to Claire Emery and her late husband, Joseph Emery, and treasured sister-in-law to the late Salvatore and F. Antoinette Salerno.

Helen was a devoted mother to eight children: Elizabeth and Martin Rogosa of Peabody; Joseph and Vicki Salerno of Orlando, FL; James and Kathleen Salerno of Peabody; John and Lori Salerno of Southport, NC; Ellen and Robert Bouchard of Salem; Jerome and Debra Salerno of Georgetown; Elaine and David Smaltz of Peabody; and Jeffrey and Alison Salerno of Salisbury.

She was a proud and loving grandmother to nineteen grandchildren and a joyful great-grandmother to sixteen great-grandchildren, as well as a beloved aunt to many nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Helen dedicated her career to education. She earned her master’s degree from Salem State College and taught English and served as a reading specialist at Kennedy Junior High and Higgins Middle School, and later taught English and sports writing at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School.

Outside the classroom, Helen was an avid reader and lifelong learner. She enjoyed gardening, trying new recipes, attending the theater, and cheering on the Dallas Cowboys. She cherished her annual trip to New York City for the Rockettes Christmas show. She and Joe traveled extensively to many points of interest around the world.

Foremost, Helen was a proud resident of her adopted hometown of Salem, MA. She and Joe were members of the Salem OTA Cultural Exchange, where they created meaningful friendships and a strong sense of community.

Helen was a woman of faith who lived that faith with great strength, gentle kindness, and generosity. Her life was one of service, and her legacy lives on through her family and all whose lives she touched.

ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends are invited to Helen’s funeral Mass which will be held at St. Mary of the Annunciation Church, Conant Street, Danvers on Monday, December 29th at 10:30 A.M. We kindly ask that you meet directly at church. Visiting hours to be held at O’Donnell Cremations – Funerals – Celebrations, 84 Washington Square (at Salem Common) SALEM, on Sunday, December 28th from 3 to 6 P.M. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Helen’s memory to the Kaplan Family Hospice House, 75 Sylvan St., Danvers, MA 01923. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com