Helen Harding

Helen Harding (Nana) passed away peacefully on Friday, February 8, 2013 after a short illness. Helen was born May 3, 1929 in Brooklyn, NY. She was the second of five daughters of Thomas and Julia Burns. Helen’s husband Arthur, (Artie), passed away in August 2010 just after their 60th anniversary. Helen is survived by four sons, Arthur Jr. and wife Cindy of Dallas, Texas and children Julie and Jennifer and husband Craig Cardwell; Glenn and wife Laura of Arlington, Texas, and children Bradley and Lindsey and her husband Bryan Jones and son Beckett; Thomas and wife Kimberly of Mastic, NY, and his children Thomas and Nicole; Kenneth and wife Kristi of Arlington, Texas, and children Claire and Emily. Helen is also survived by three sisters, Isabel Fried, Patricia Rice and Barbara Burns all of East Rockaway, NY. Helen’s other sister Florence Herrmann of Roxbury, NY preceded her in death in 2008.

Helen grew up in Brooklyn, NY and after high school, worked in the Western Union building in Manhattan as a roller-skating telegram messenger for military casualties at the end of WWII. Helen met Artie at a local USO dance club after the war and they were married in 1950. Artie joined the NY Police Department and he and Helen enjoyed their first 10 years of marriage in Brooklyn and then moved to East Rockaway, Long Island in 1960, living in the same home for over 50 years. In 2010, Helen and Artie came to Texas for an extended visit with three sons who lived there and with Artie in declining health, moved to The Waterford on Cooper Senior Living Center in Arlington, Texas.

Helen was a loving wife and mother with a true servant’s heart. She was a true stay at home mom for her four boys, hosting many birthday parties, serving as Cub Scout den mother and making lunch daily for them in elementary school. Helen and Artie were long time members of Bethany Congregational Church. Helen served in many areas over the years including a lay reader, the Thrift Shop, the choir and coffee hour. Helen and Artie were very active members in American Legion Post 958 and Helen served in many roles including Ladies Auxiliary President. Helen was active in the Republican Party and served as an election monitor for over 30 years.

Helen and her four sisters loved to be together and every holiday included the sisters and their families, with barely any room for outsiders. They loved to laugh with and at each other. Helen enjoyed traveling with family and friends to Atlantic City and later Oklahoma casino’s. She and Artie enjoyed many summers crabbing or fishing in the bay in East Rockaway, wintered in Longboat Key, Florida and traveled many times to Texas to visit three of their sons and families. They loved their church, community, extended family and friends on Long Island.

Helen and Artie’s (2010) passing brings an end to life on this earth for a wonderful couple and parents who lived a faith-filled life and were beloved by all. A celebration of life service will be held on February 20, 2013, 6:30pm at First United Methodist Church, 313 North Center Street, Arlington, Texas 76011, and at a future date in East Rockaway, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Bethany Congregational Church, 100 Main Street, East Rockaway, NY 11518.