Mary Helen Hadwin Bergstrom

BERGSTROM, Mary Helen Hadwin died on Sunday July 27, 2014 at the age of 87 years. Mary Helen, known to her work associates as “Mary”, was born on January 24, 1927 in Vivian, Louisiana. As a child she lived with her parents and six brothers and sisters in Shreveport and in Tullos, LA, graduating from Urania High School in 1943. After high school, her family returned to Shreveport where she attended Centenary College and began her life-long career with the telephone company. Mary met and fell in love with her husband Ken while on temporary assignment with a group of telephone operators during tourist season in Miami, Florida. After a two year courtship, Mary and Ken were married on Christmas Eve, 1948 in Lanesville, MA, spending the first two years of their marriage in Concord, NH while Ken finished college. The couple moved to Hartford, CT in 1950 and continued to live in the Hartford area for many years, raising their two children, Diane and Richard in Wethersfield and Glastonbury, CT. Mary’s career with the telephone company spanned 30 years and several states, starting as a Telephone Operator and finishing as the first woman in the state of Connecticut to attain the technical position of “Testman”.

Mary was curious about everything throughout her long life. She followed politics with a passion and enjoyed gardening, reading, history, people watching, and cooking for family gatherings and holidays. Her sharp mind was an inspiration to her children, family and friends. Mary moved to Ashland, VA in 1996. She lived independently and enjoyed driving her car to go shopping at Cross Brothers Grocery, have lunch at the Hanover Café and weekly hair appointments at Salon Van Haren in Ashland. Mary is preceded in death by her husband, E. Kenneth Bergstrom, sister Bonnie Bell Hadwin Watson, brother John Roger Hadwin, parents Mary Helen Venable Hadwin, and Daniel Wesley Hadwin. Mary will be missed by her survivors; daughter Diane Bergstrom Campbell, son-in-law Colin; their children; son Richard Kenneth Bergstrom, daughter-in-law Betty; their children, Erik, Sarah, and Nicholas; brothers Dr. Daniel Hadwin and Richard Hadwin, sisters Dell Rupp, and Margaret Stone, sisters-in-law Alice Hadwin and Sandra Hadwin, and nieces and nephews who kept in touch with her by phone from across the country. Mary was an animal lover and her beloved dog Copper and cat Velvet will miss her generous treats and loving attention. In the final year of her life, Mary discovered the Shiloh Friendship Café in Ashland where she enjoyed playing dominoes, lunches and field trips with many new friends that she found there. A memorial service will be held for Mary on August 9th, at 2:00 p.m. at the Nelsen Funeral Home, Ashland Chapel, 412 S. Washington Highway, Ashland, VA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to: Senior Connections, 24 East Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23219, attention: Jamie Smith