Helen Louise Thatcher

Helen was born and raised in Hillsdale, NJ on the Demarest family farm, and she graduated from Park Ridge High School in 1940. Helen was a resident of Hartford, CT, East Hartford, CT, Glen Ridge, NJ, and Toms River, NJ, before moving to Lakewood. She met her husband in New York City where they both worked for Crum & Forster. Helen later retired after working as a secretary at JP Morgan Chase in Montclair, NJ. She was a member of St. Andrew U.M.C. and was active in both the United Methodist Women and in the Ladies Auxiliary of Ocean Grove. Since 1983, Helen spent summers as a “tenter” in Ocean Grove, NJ where she enjoyed the beauty and breezes of the ocean. She was loved by all and will be remembered for her kindness, fairness and generosity.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 62 years, Millard F. Thatcher; two children, Joan Dilakian of NY and Bruce Thatcher of MA; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Helen was the sister of the late George and Walter Demarest.

Visitation will be Friday, October 21, 2011 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the D’Elia Funeral Home, Rte. 70 & Vermont Ave., Lakewood, NJ 08701. Her funeral service will be Saturday, October 22, 2011 at the funeral home. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association of Ocean Grove, NJ, 22 Pilgrim Pathway, Ocean Grove, NJ 07756 or to St. Andrew U.M.C. of Toms River, 1528 Church Road, Toms River, NJ 08755.