Helen Turner

Helen Victoria Turner, of Babylon Village, NY died March 14, 2015. She was born August 1, 1922 in Spanish Town, Jamaica to the late Joseph and Caroline (Ford) Turner. She is predeceased by siblings Harrington and Newton and nephew Donald.

Helen grew up in Kingston, Jamaica, where she graduated from Excelsior High School (now Excelsior Community College). Her many stories of life in Jamaica made for fascinating listening. She migrated to US in 1970 and graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 1976. Her sense of fashion and cutting edge trends in style was impeccable. She designed and fabricated her creations when she was not working at her full time job as a legal secretary in Manhattan. Helen retired from the New York City Agency for Child Development in May 1993. At that time, she moved from Gravesend, Brooklyn to join her daughter Carolyn in Babylon Village.

A great fan of Broadway shows, Helen made the trip to Manhattan to see many a performance. She also enjoyed attending concerts. Her garden always got special attention. Every winter she would gather the catalogs and decide what to buy for her garden to ensure that it had blooms throughout the entire growing season. she was also an avid reader and traveler. As her health deteriorated, her favorite Sunday pastime was solving the crossword puzzle, which she would complete with foreign language dictionaries and the thesaurus at her side.

Everyone knew they could count on Helen for great advice and comfort, no matter what problem they faced. She was regarded as a mother by many of the people whose lives she touched.

Helen leaves behind her daughter, Carolyn (Reid) Parkinson of Babylon Village, grandson USAF Major Anthony Parkinson and his wife Christina of Aiea, Hawaii. In addition, she leaves behind sisters in law Lurline and Violet along with nieces, nephews, cousins, great nieces and great nephews in Jamaica, Maryland and Florida. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

Friends may visit at the Claude R. Boyd-Spencer Funeral Homes, 255 Higbie Lane, West Islip, NY 11795 on Tuesday, March 17, 2015 from 2-4:30 and 6-8:30. Pastor Paul Gaug of the 1st Presbyterian Church of Babylon will officiate a service of Christian Burial at 6:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Heart Association in her name are appreciated.