Helen Elizabeth Bracken

Helen Elizabeth (Helt) Bracken, age 87, lifelong Bellevue resident passed away Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016. She was the daughter of the late Elizabeth “Betty” and Roy D. Helt. Helen was the beloved wife of the late Bill Bracken; cherished mother of Patti Bracken of Kings Mtn., NC and Ginny Driscoll of Glenwood, MD. Grandmother of Timothy (Melanie) Driscoll, Mt. Lebanon, Michael Driscoll, Bellevue, Joseph (Katie) Yock, Huntersville, NC and Katie (George) Andrews, Derwood, MD.; great grandmother of Delaney, Emerson and Jaxson Driscoll and Oliver Andrews. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her beloved brother, James G. Helt and her sister-in-law, Becky Helt.

Helen was a member of the former Bellevue Baptist Church. She supported animal welfare organizations, Humane Society of the US, Humane Society of Charlotte and the ASPCA. She participated for many years in the Going Home Greyhound organization providing education, adoption and foster care of rescued greyhounds from US racetracks. Her love of dogs was apparent in the many breeds of dogs she owned over the years, including a Maltese Tinkerbell and a Bichon mix Candi who were by her side until the last day.

She was a graduate of Bellevue H.S. and spent her life as a proud Bellevue resident and wife of Bellevue Police Chief, Bill Bracken. She was an artist, homemaker and enjoyed her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Friends will be received Sunday from 2-4 and 6-8pm in the Orion C. Pinkerton Funeral Home, Inc., 1014 California Ave, Avalon, 412-766-5600, where a funeral service will be held on Monday at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the animal charity of your choice.

Condolences may be offered at www.pinkertonfuneralhome.net