Helen Claire Ormsby

After a 106-year journey, Helen Claire (Brown) Ormsby of Centerville, MA left this earth on January 16, 2024, and entered eternal rest with her Lord and Savior. She was then reunited with her loving husband of 56 years, Charles A. Ormsby, who predeceased her on March 11, 1993. Helen was also predeceased by her parents (Fred Brown, Berenice Clark), her sister (Lois Engel), and her great-grandson (Kyle Klein).

Helen was born in North Collins, NY on March 11, 1917, was a direct descendent of John Billington Sr. who arrived here on the Mayflower and several of her ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War. She spent her childhood in Eden, NY and graduated from Eden High School where she was Captain of her basketball team and played alto clarinet in the high school band. She married Charles on August 20, 1937 while he was a student at the University of Michigan.

Mom leaves behind 4 children who “loved her to the moon and back”: Beverly Petersen of Centerville, MA; Charles Ormsby (and his wife Colleen Ormsby) of Kennebunkport, ME; Ronald Ormsby (Rosa Pimenta) of Centerville, MA; and Douglas Ormsby of Raleigh, NC.

She leaves ten grandchildren: Candice Klein, Charlie Ormsby, Liz Vaillancourt, Andy Ormsby, Luan Oliveira, Matthew Ormsby, Chris Ormsby, Sarah Smith, Kelsie Ormsby, and Shaina Ryan… and twelve great-grandchildren: Trenton, Weston, Josie, Lila, Caleb, Sadie, Ryan, Gage, Bryson, Lilly, Kensington and Harper… and two great-great-grandchildren: Madison and Lincoln.

Mom and Dad lived in Kenmore, NY, East Hartford and Bloomfield, CT, and Weston and Centerville, MA as Dad was recruited by various companies. Mom was a Cub Scout Pack Leader, a member of Weston’s Bridge Club, the Weston Garden Club, and a community volunteer.

Mom loved her family unconditionally and devoted her life to meeting their needs and wants. It was always “family first”. Along the way, Mom became proficient at sewing (made many of our clothes, created draperies for every house we lived in, re-upholstered furniture), tennis (won the Women’s Tennis Championship in East Hartford in 1955), gardening, cooking, baking (best Strawberry-Rhubarb pie ever!), crossword puzzles, and finally as she approached 90 years of age she started writing poetry and some of her poems were published. She was well-versed in Shakespeare and could recite several well-known scenes from memory. Mom had a fascination for elephants and had quite a collection of elephant figurines. She also loved her Red Sox.

There will be a private family service at Mosswood Cemetery-Cotuit in March followed by a Memorial Service at Osterville Baptist Church in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Helen’s memory to the Salvation Army and Osterville Baptist Church ( 824 Main St. Osterville, MA 02655 ).