Helen Vopasek loved being Mrs. Claus alongside her husband Frank as Santa — and she wasn’t going to let bad knees stop her from spreading Christmas cheer
Last Christmas, Mrs. Claus’s knees were killing her. “I was in agony,” says Mrs. Claus, aka Helen Vopasek, 74, of Little Ferry, N.J.
Her husband, Frank Vopasek, 66, has been appearing as Santa every Christmas since 1980. About 20 years ago, Helen joined him as Mrs. Claus, spreading holiday cheer at hospitals and charitable events. The retired sales and service rep loved the gig — and her husband loved having her by his side.
“I get to spend the best holiday of the year with the one that I love,” says Frank, who is an energy engineer.
But as they made the rounds in 2024, attending Christmas tree lightings and breakfasts with Santa, it was hard for Helen to stay on her feet. A cortisone shot and over-the-counter painkillers got her through her Mrs. Claus duties last holiday season, but the second cortisone shot quickly wore off. Doctors said that she needed two knee replacements. She told her orthopedic surgeon and physical therapists that she was on a deadline: She had to be fully recovered before the 2025 holiday season…