Helen A Forness

She was born on February 17, 1923 in Newark, NJ. Her parents were Albert and Helen Wolff. She lived in her grandparent's large home with her extended family. Her grandparents owned a tavern and restaurant. Her father was a forman plumber for the railroad. She had several infections as a child. Life was difficult during the depression. She lived on a large street with two hospitals and several doctors. She liked their garden, Airdale dogs, and roller skating. Most o fall, she liked living with or near their relatives. She went to Saint Joseph's Grammar School. She graduated in 1938 with honors in spelling. Their neighborhood was diverse with many immigrants. She learned to speak some German and Polish. She and her family enjoyed riding trolley sand trains. They went to New York City to shop and visit museums. They visited relatives in Yonkers, NY. They went to a summer house in Bradley Beach, NJ to swim. Helen enjoyed swimming and the beach. her sister Joan was born when Helen was nine years old. She loved her sister and helped care for her. Her father took them for car rides on weekends. Helen was interested in fashion, sewing, design, and art. She was very interested in reading and school. She won an academic scholarship to Saint Vincent's Academy High School. She graduated in 1942.

Her father was transferred to Trenton, NJ in 1942. Helen and her family moved to Hamilton Township. They lived in a two story home on Maddock Ave in the suburbs. They raised chickens and had a victory garden. They had a Winesap apple tree and her mother baked apple pies. They had a Mallard duck named Peep and an English Setter dog. Helen and Joan did some modeling. Helen went to New Jersey State Teachers College and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1946. During the summer Helen worked as a saleswoman for Swern's Department store. She also worked for General Motors at an airplane factory during wartime. She taught 7-8th grade English at Yardville School, Hamilton Township, NJ for several years. During the summers she worked as a PBX operator for Homasote and later as a saleswoman for Stacy Sport Shop. helen enjoyed teaching 12th grade English and History at Pennsbury High School. While teaching she attended Rutgers university. She received a Masters Degree in Education in 1951.

She met Joe Forness at a friend's New Year's Eve Party. They started dating and had many common interests including theater, film, music, art, and dancing. Helen and Joe were married on November 28, 1953 at Saint Rafael's Church in Hamilton Township, NJ. They wen tot New York City on their honeymoon. They went on a summer vacation to Montreal and Quebec, Canada. Joe was working as an appliance engineer in Trenton, and later in Philadelphia. Their first daughter Christine was born in 1956. They bought a Cape Cod home in Levittown, PA in 1957. Their son Tim was born in 1958. Christine started school in Levittown. Their second daughter Cecile was born in 1962.

Joe got a job with Pratt and Whitney in 1962. Helen and her family moved to Mancester, CT. Tim started school in Mancester. Helen and her family regularly visited her relatives in New Jersey, especially her parents and Joan's family.

Helen and Joe bought a two story Colonial house in Ellington, CT in 1964. Cecile started school in Ellington. Helen and Joe involved their children in many activities including education, arts, and sports. They attended summer classes including science, mathematics, and woodworking. They took art classes at Wadsworth Atheneum. They were involved in Scouting, dance, and piano. They participated in sports including swimming, gymnastics, and baseball. In the winter they had fun ice skating, sledding, and tobogganing. Helen frequently took her children to Crystal Lake for swimming lesson and recreation. In the winter, they went to an indoor pool. Helen was active in dances, and plant sales. Helen enjoyed sewing her own clothes. She entered sewing competitions and won prizes. Helen and her family went on summer vacations in New England, New York, and Canada. Helen was occasionally sick during those years.

Joe was transferred to Palm Beach County, FL in 1970. They bought her new four bedroom home in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. The subtropical climate was very good for Helen. She returned to teaching as a substitute. She started teaching 6-8th grade English in 1971 at Saint Clare's School, North Palm Beach, FL. She taught Cecile for three years. She involved her children in activities including Scouting, dancing, and basketball. They had a Boxer dog named Trina. Helen frequently took her children to the beach. Helen's parents had moved to Palm Beach County, FL when her father retired in the 1960's. They visited frequently. Helen and her family went on vacations in Florida, the Southeast, and to Washington, DC. Helen and Joe enjoyed European tours many times. Chris, Tim, and Cecile wen tot college and obtained degrees. All her children work in medical fields. Joe obtained an MBA degree from Florida Atlantic University. Helen took education courses at FAU. She received a Sallie Mae Teacher Tribute award. She enjoyed teaching and loved her students. She retired in 1991 after teaching English for twenty years at Saint Clare's School. Joe retired from working in aerospace at Pratt and Whitney in 1991.

Helen enjoyed oil painting classes and sewing during retirement. Joe fenced in college and started coaching fencing. They continued to be interested in art, music and musicals in the community. Helen and Joe traveled around the United States and Canada with their adult children. Helen later developed medical problems. She had difficulty seeing and hearing which limited her activities. She always enjoyed meeting and talking with her family, relatives, and friends.

Helen developed an infection and was briefly hospitalized. Helen passed away on October 1, 2014. A Funeral mass was held on October 7, 2014 at Saint Ignatius Cathedral by Father Thomas Barrett, a former student. She was laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery in Tequesta, Florida.