A memorial service will be held Tuesday, 2:00 p.m., at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, with Dr. Craven Williams officiating.
The daughter of Joseph Sokolowski and Mary Kos Sokolowski, Helen was born May 14, 1929 and grew up in Webster, Massachusetts. She married Lester Akenson in 1952 and moved to Rockville, Maryland. The marriage ended in 1975. She was an active volunteer while raising their daughter, Mary, then worked for the Rockville branch of the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Montgomery County Public Schools.
Helen moved to Greensboro after her retirement in 1989 and began a busy life focused on serving others. She was a member of First Presbyterian’s Community Service Group, providing blankets and caps for needy infants. She volunteered with the Children’s Home Society Mothers’ Morning Out program and helped her daughter and son-in-law in their work as foster parents with CHS.
An American Legion member for 50 years, Helen was very active in American Legion Auxiliary Unit 53 in Greensboro and Unit 86 in Rockville, organizing monthly visits to local VA Hospitals to volunteer, collecting supplies and funds, visiting local veterans in nursing homes on holidays, and as a club officer many times.
Helen also was active in the Friendship Day program and served as an officer for the group. She was an enthusiastic participant in senior activities such as the AHOY exercise program and group bus trips. She rarely missed Music for a Sunday Evening in the Park concert or a Five by O’Henry presentation.
She was a faithful member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
Helen is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Mary (Akenson) and Curt Harshey, grandson Trent Harshey, brother Joe of Webster, Massachusetts, and too many nieces and nephews to name.
The family thanks the staff of Pennybyrn at Maryfield, especially McEwen, Congdon and Hughes houses, the volunteer visitors and chaplain Craig Walker of Hospice of the Piedmont, Craven Williams, Maureen Flack, Virginia Herring and all at Holy Trinity who showed their care with action and prayer.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you direct your expression of sympathy to any organization working to cure dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, along with your prayers for a cure.
Online condolences may be made at www.haneslineberryfuneralhomes.com
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