Helen Z. Kirby

Groton - Helen Z. Kirby, 90, of Groton, passed on Friday morning, July 5, 2013, at Apple Rehabilitation Center in Mystic.

Helen was the daughter of Peter and Serayo Zaharioiu and the wife of the late Stavros Kirby. She was born in Shelton, on March 10, 1923, and was the first generation of immigrant parents who came through Ellis Island in the early 1920s.

Helen attended schools in Ansonia, and also in New London at Saltunstall School. When she was 10 when her parents took her to Greece in 1933, there she went to Greek Schools. Her parents died in Greece and Helen lived with her brother and sister until after World War II. In 1947, she came back to the United States and settled in New London. She went to work at the Mohegan Hotel and there she met her husband and they married in 1952.

Helen owned and operated the Midway Chicken and Pizza House # 2 with her husband until they retired to South Carolina in 1983. When Stavros died in 2001 she returned to New London. She was a former member of Holy Transfiguration Greek Church in South Carolina and also was a member of the Philoplekos Ladies and served one term as their president.

Helen is a member of St. Sophia Hellenic Orthodox Church in New London and the Ladies Enosis Society and a daughter of the Penelope Diane Chapter in New London. She had also taught Sunday school and was on the church council. Helen was a past president of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Eagles in New London and a past member of Charity Chapter Order of Eastern Star in Mystic.

Helen was an animal lover. She rescued them from being euthanized, picked up any stray and homeless animals raising them and feeding them. She was a member of the Best Friends Animal Shelter in Utah.

Helen loved and was close to all of her family and relatives. She is survived by three nieces and five nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, at St. Sophia Hellenic Orthodox Church, 200 Hempstead St., New London. Interment will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery. A visiting hour will be from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the Church.

Byles Memorial Home, 99 Huntington St., New London, is in charge of arrangements.

Please omit flowers, donations in her memory may be directed to St. Sophia Church or to the Best Friends of Animal Shelter, 2005 S 1100 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84106.