In Memory of

Helen

Stanley

Obituary for Helen Stanley

Dearly beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, Helen Stanley, passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early-morning hours of February 27th 2017, at the Assisted Living facility at 3 Cathedral Square, at the ripe age of 98.

Helen was born in Hartford, Connecticut, the first daughter of John and Francesca Hohl, and spent her growing-up years in Manchester, Connecticut. Ever an eager student, she graduated as salutatorian of her class, then went to a business vocational school, Baypath, where she discovered a love of acting and the theater.

While at Baypath, she decided to take dancing lessons, and that is where she met her future husband, John Stanley. It was a whirlwind romance, and they were married six months later. World War II had broken out, and John worked in the stateside war effort, using his aeronautical knowledge at his job at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft to make sure the engines our fighter pilots were using were up to snuff. In the meantime their first-born child Carole came along in 1943. With the end of the war, they moved to the Ticonderoga/Crown Point area, where John joined his brother Walt to start up a Ford/Mercury car dealership. More children came along--Dianne in 1947, John Mark in 1951, and, the afterthought(!), Glenn, in 1962.

After their marriage of 34 years ended, Helen decided to move to the San Diego area, where Dianne and John had settled. Eventually Carole moved there as well; then Glenn, briefly, before eventually settling in Alaska. Although the marriage ended, the family remained intact, with many family gatherings over the years.

Those were busy years, and she might still have been there, except that Dianne decided to move to the Burlington area, where her daughter resides, in 2004. Eventually Helen, as well as Carole and John Mark, followed, and have been in the area ever since.

Perhaps the most striking thing about Helen was her utter love of life. She didn't want to miss out on a single thing, so wherever she went, she threw herself wholeheartedly into that community's activities. She was a founding member of the Garden Club in Ticonderoga, and was well known for her love of roses. She belonged to many civic organizations, started a small community theatrical group, and was very active at the Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School for many years. In San Diego, she worked as a home health-care aide and busied herself with many activities, like the electric-car association, since she saw the electric car as a harbinger of the future. When she moved to Burlington and Three Cathedral Square, she involved herself in all their activities, always enjoying being around other people.

Helen was never one to let the grass grow under her feet. She lived a long and active life, and she will be sorely missed.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, John and Francesca Hohl; her sister, Betty Hohl Benedict; her former husband, John Stanley; and her grandson, Arif Malik. She is survived by her four children--Carole Valin, Dianne Mallik, John Mark Stanley, and Glenn Stanley--by her seven grandchildren--Marc Valin, Christopher Valin, Aziza Malik, John Glenn Stanley, Bryan Stanley, Ciera Stanley, and Zachary Stanley--and by her four great-grandchildren--Samuel Valin, Schuyler Valin, Hazel Valin, and Jessica Stanley.

A private family viewing was held at A.W. Rich Funeral Home. There will be a memorial service held at the First Methodist Church in Ticonderoga, NY, in the summer (date to be announced), after which her cremains will be buried at the family plot in Ironville Cemetery.

The family wishes to extend its heartfelt thanks for the wonderful care she received from the staff at Three Cathedral Square and to the hospice nurses from Bayada. They enriched her life and eased her passing. May she rest in peace.