Helen M. KELSEY

KELSEY, Helen M. (Zurcher)

Helen M. (Zurcher) Kelsey, 96, longtime resident of Portland, passed away peacefully Saturday, (May 5, 2012) at Portland Care and Rehabilitation. Born on June 23, 1915 in East Glastonbury, she was the daughter of the late Frederick O. and Gladys (Ruoff) Zurcher. She graduated from Glastonbury High School in 1932. Helen was happily married for 48 years to Edwin P. Kelsey, who predeceased her in 1984. Helen and Ed settled on Great Hill Road in Portland in 1938 and raised their family there, where she remained until 2002. As a young woman, Helen worked as a speed writer testing typewriters at Royal Typewriter in Hartford. While her daughters grew up, she worked first in the offices of the Goodrich-Hale tobacco company in Portland, and then worked for many years at Bunce's department store in Middletown. Known for her wit, she enjoyed sharing laughter, jokes and good times with her family and many friends. She was also a wonderful cook and baker, and every summer she canned or froze much of the produce from husband Ed's large garden. Helen is survived by her two daughters and their husbands, Judith and George Hale of Fitchburg, MA, and Sue and Jeff Tester of Hingham, MA; grandsons and their wives Jim and Suzanne Hale of Plymouth, MA, and Tim and Tammy Hale of Shirley, MA; granddaughter and her husband Kelsey and Alan Hart of Watkinsville, GA; as well as five cherished great-grandchildren, Ashley Hale, Chris Hale, Alexa Hale, Ethan Hale and Lucy Hart; along with many nieces and nephews. She also leaves sisters Hazel Zurcher and Lorraine Zurcher of Glastonbury; brother Donald Zurcher and his wife Patricia of Manchester; and sister-in-law Jean Kelsey of Portland. She was pre-deceased by sisters Ruth Johnson and Irene Kelsey, and brother Kenneth Zurcher.
A Funeral Service will be held Thursday, May 10 at 11 a.m. at the First Congregational Church, 554 Main St., Portland. Burial will follow at Center Cemetery, Portland. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Congregational Church, 554 Main St., Portland, CT 06480. To send an online expression of sympathy, please visit www.portlandmemorialfh.net. Portland Memorial Funeral Home 231 Main St Portland has care of arrangements.