Helen L. Ross

Helen Linkovich Ross was born April1, 1924 at home on the 500-acre family farm on Wallins Hill in Winsted Ct., the 6th and last child of William and Mary (Yarmachuk) Linkovich. The attending doctor was brought to the house by her father in a horse and buggy.

Helen attended public schools in Winsted and graduated from Gilbert High School in 1942. Helen met Victor (Vic) Sheridan Ross Jr at a dance at Trinity College, Hartford, where he was stationed for training for WW2 deployment. In 1946, she moved to Washington, DC and she and Vic were married in 1949. Helen worked in insurance both in Winsted and in Washington. Upon Vic’s graduation from the University of Maryland they moved to Alexandria, Va where Vic entered Virginia Theological Seminary. In 1952, they moved to Mt. Airy, Maryland where Vic was ordained Deacon and Priest and served at St. James Episcopal Church. Their daughter Anne Schley was born in Alexandria, Va and Mary Elizabeth and Helen Louise were born in Frederick, MD. In 1958 the family moved to Staunton, Virginia where Vic was rector of Emmanuel Church as well as Chaplain at Stuart Hall, a private girl’s school, where he also taught history. In 1965 they moved to Middlebury, CT where Vic was Vicar of St. George’s Church. In 1970 they moved to Glastonbury, where Vic was Rector of St. James Church for 15 years until his retirement in 1985. Helen served on various church committees and sang in the church choirs wherever they were located. She was accomplished in many areas. She was a great cook and loved to entertain. After going back to work, Helen served as Executive Director of two CT United Cerebral Palsy agencies, first in Waterbury and then in New Haven. She then moved on to become a travel agent in South Glastonbury. She and Vic traveled the globe – she said that she had been on all the major rivers of the world except the Nile. After retirement she served the community as a volunteer at Hartford Hospital and was active at the Hartford Town and County Club serving as treasurer for two terms. While living at Seabury Retirement she continued to be active – she enjoyed calling Bingo and getting together for card games. Most notably, she knitted dozens of “Helen’s Hats” which were donated to Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford and were sold at Seabury to raise money for the Seabury Foundation.

Helen is survived by daughters Anne and her husband Steve Mackin of Charleston, SC, Mary and her husband Tom Goulette of Hinesburg, VT and Helen and her husband Bill Coiteux of East Hartford as well as her grandchildren Katie and William (Rebecca) and three wonderful great-grandchildren Jackson, David and Emma and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service celebrating Helen’s life will be Thursday, July 24, 2025 at 10 am in the chapel at the Seabury Retirement Community, 200 Seabury Drive, Bloomfield. Private burial will be held at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours. The D’Esopo East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford has been entrusted with the care of the funeral arrangements. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopoeh.com