Helen Magocsi

YORK, Maine - Longtime York resident Helen Magocsi, beloved widow of Alex, died at her home on Thursday, April 28, 2016, at the age of 95.

Helen grew up in Endwell, New York, and after graduating from high school entered a nursing program at Long Island College Hospital, where she met her future husband who was an Intern there. In 1941, they were married in secret due to policies at LICH. After the completion of her studies in 1942, they spent time in Alabama and New York, where Helen remained when Alex went off to war as a doctor in the US Army.

After arriving in York with children Robert and Marianne after World War II, Alex and Helen set about making the town their home. Alex opened a family medical practice on Main Street, and in the next four years their family grew by three with the births of Stephen, Alexander Jr., (Sandy), and Joanne. Helen's sister Irene joined them in York, as did her cousin Vern Davenport, her parents, and Alex's parents. Her children were accordingly surrounded by relatives, and also numerous cats, dogs, and rescued birds.

As her children grew, Helen became active in a variety of local organizations and activities. She was a member of the Women's and Garden Clubs, the Women's Auxiliary of York Hospital, and a founding member of the York Art Association. She was a Brownie and Girl Scout Leader, and Den Mother for the Cub Scouts. During the summers, with her children, their friends, and whatever relatives happened to be visiting, she enjoyed the beach at York Harbor with ice cream afterwards from Dr. Hawkes' Pharmacy.

While her children were busy with their own activities, she and Vern opened Davenport's, a summer clothing store in York Harbor in what is now the York Art Association. Building on her long-time interest in fashion – the family still has paper dolls and their dresses which she designed when she was growing up - she made many buying trips to Boston to find just the right "Kingston Trio" shirt or summer dress for dancing at the Marshall House. She later used her nursing degree to help out in Alex's office.

Even after Alex retired and most of her children had left and to begin their own families, her house remained a gathering place for her grandchildren, who spent whole summers living with her and working at various local jobs. With the next generation, she became Great Grandma or GG to eleven great grandchildren. She was tolerant, open-minded and generous to all her family and their friends, with a sense of humor that sometimes surprised those around her.

Helen is survived by her sister Irene Bragdon (Ted); children Marianne Pei, Alex Magocsi (Roswitha) and Joanne Hepp (Paul); grandchildren Marc Hepp (Jennifer Cutts), Alyssa Pei (Neal Sondheimer), Boris Magocsi (Sonja Gräber-Magocsi), Stephen Pei (Elizabeth), Laura Montgomery (Andy), Jotham Magocsi, Emily Rittenhouse (Rusty), and Chris Perrella; and eleven great grandchildren, along with nieces and one nephew and their families. Helen was predeceased by her husband Alex and sons Robert and Stephen.

SERVICES: A gathering will be held from 11 a.m., to 1 p.m., on Sunday, May 8, in the Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home, 91 Long Sands Road, York. Burial in the First Parish Cemetery will be private. Memorial donations can be made to a local animal shelter of your choice. Visit www.lucaseatonfuneralhome.com.