Helen Joan Branovich was born on August 13, 1925 in Vandergrift, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Her parents were Ladislau Branovich and Valeria Chelko, both born in Czechoslovakia.

At the time of the 1930 Federal Census, the family lived in Parks, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. The children of Ladislau and Valeria were Irene, Paul, Mildred, Joseph, Olive, Helen and Tresse (Theresa). By 1940, there were three more children, Betty, Louis and Susan.

On February 14, 1952, in Contra Costa, California, Helen Branovich married Jean Donald Eaton. By December 1960, at which time her name was changed on her Social Security record, she had married Unknown Bruce.

Helen J. Bruce died on April 13, 1999. Her last residence was 94571 Rio Vista, Solano, California.