Mrs. Helen Inez Stone Palazzo

Mrs. Helen Inez Stone Palazzo, 94, of Gulfport, died Thursday, May 12, 2011 in Gulfport. Born May 19, 1916, Helen Stone Palazzo, know by her family and friends as Big Mom, was a lifelong resident of Gulfport. She graduated from Gulfport High School in 1933 with a perfect 12 year attendance record and played clarinet in the first Gulfport High Band. She married Frank Palazzo and they had six children. She was a stay-at-home Mother and Grandmother who always helped with her children’s school functions, PTA or sports activity, She began her working career after the death of her husband and naturally chose to work with children. She worked several years as a teacher’s aid for the special education program and as a library aid in the Gulfport School System. She served in many board positions for the Heritage Place Condominium Association where she lived for 20+ years before Hurricane Katrina. She was preceded in death by her husband Frank S. Palazzo, Sr., parents Florence and George Stone, sons in law, Arthur Morrison and Bert Stieffel, brothers Harry & Hugh Stone, sister Hilda Stone Tatum and brother-in-law Buddy Jones. Her greatest joy was her family.”Big Mom” is survived by her daughters and sons: Mary Helen Palazzo Morrison, Frank Palazzo Jr. & wife Muriel, Virgie Palazzo Lund and husband Gene, Butch Palazzo & wife Susan, Flo Palazzo Stieffel, and Buddy Palazzo & wife Vicki. Grandsons/daughters and spouses are Trisha Morrison, Michelle (Morrison) & Joe Schuyler, Tommy & Caren Morrison, Frank & Mitzi Palazzo III, Steven & Lisa Palazzo, Betsy Palazzo & Lee Hertz, Kyle Palazzo, Mike & Kristi Lund, Frank Lund, Tony & Amy Palazzo, Brett & Candi Palazzo, Deborah & Chris Koford, Buddy & Lucy Palazzo, Brad & Mia Palazzo and Chrysti (Palazzo)& Bailey Shivers. Great-grandsons/daughters are Sophia and Maria Schuyler, Danny and Rachel Morrison, Katie Palazzo, Bear, Aubrey and Bennett Palazzo, Nicholas and Kennady Hertz, Hendrick Palazzo, Chelsea, Sammy Gene and Alex Lund, Madison, Joseph and Marissa Palazzo, Vinny Palazzo, Claire and Abbie Koford, Savannah, Trace and Kane Palazzo, Jacob and Ty Palazzo, Bailey, Cole and Logan Shivers, her sister Hazel (Chett) Goodyear, sister-in-law Gloria Jones as well as numerous extended family members. The Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church, Gulfport where friends may visit at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Evergreen Gardens in Gulfport. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com.