Helen DeLuca, R&M Sandwich Shop Co-Founder, Passes Away

The co-founder of one of downtown Canton’s most popular — and longstanding — restaurants has passed away.

R&M Sandwich Shop co-owner Helen Bernadette DeLuca, 85, died on Tuesday, the restaurant said on its Facebook page. The business will be closed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday so the family can honor its matriarch.

Funeral services for DeLuca will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 24 at Sosebee Funeral Home with Rev. Charles Davis officiating.

Entombment will follow in Cherokee Memorial Park Mausoleum. The family will receive friends at the funeral home 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23 and from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Oct. 24.

DeLuca, a native of Philadelphia, lived in Pennsauken, New Jersey, until she moved to Canton in November 1971. She and her husband Louis DeLuca were the owners of R & M Sandwich Shop — known to locals as simply the Hoagie Shop — on West Main Street for over 40 years, according to her obituary.

DeLuca was preceded in death by her husband, mother Martha Kozak and father Anthony Groszek. She leaves behind three children: Raymond (Paula) DeLuca, Donna DeLuca and Michael (Jamie) DeLuca; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Second Chance Canton-Winter Warming Shelter (271 Marietta Rd., Canton, GA 30115) or PoBoys Car Club - Toys For Tots Drive (PO Box 5118, Canton, GA 30114).

Photo credit: Patch