Helen Laura Schetzel of East Haven, widow of Charles Schetzel, passed away peacefully on July 23 at Madison House, Madison. She was born July 16, 1919, in New Haven to Edward J. and Georgianna (Paquette) Magee.
Helen attended nursing school at Highland Hospital in Beacon, New York, later leaving her nursing career to raise a family. She eventually returned to Connecticut where she remained for the duration of her life. Although never entering the nursing field again, she retired from the Hospital of St. Raphael as a laboratory secretary, and volunteered at the newly formed Hospice in Branford.
Helen was instrumental in forming a friendship group with former classmates of Benjamin Jepson Grammar School, who met for luncheon once a month. These classmates remained lifelong friends.
Helen served in the Town Of East Haven as a commissioner on the Housing Board and was also active in the Order of the Eastern Star as a member and officer spanning 58 years. She was a Past Matron several times and a Grand Representative of Florida. In 2008 she was honored with a fifty-year pin and lifetime membership in Alice Chapter #76 of Hamden. She was well known for her gentle touch and Irish sense of humor, and never missed a chance to brighten someone’s day.
She was predeceased by her loving son Terry J. Pine; and her siblings Edward J. Magee, Jr., John A. Magee, Sr., and William T. Magee, and sisters Eleanor Enix and Margaret “Peggy” Smith.
She leaves her devoted daughter Mary Lou Johnson, widow of Shepard Johnson, with whom she resided in East Haven; four grandchildren, Jeffrey Pine, Joseph Burrone, Sandra Chudyi, and Laura Burrone; and four great-grandchildren, Michael Burrone, Samantha Rodriguez, Alexander Chudyi, and Aaron Pine. She is also survived by a great-great grandson, Gabriel Rodriguez, and a daughter-in-law, Mary (Ulrich) Pine.
The family will receive friends on Aug. 6 from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service at 12:00 noon in the Clancy-Palumbo Funeral Home (Clancy Funeral Home), 43 Kirkham Ave., East Haven. The services will begin with Eastern Star followed by clergy.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Eastern Star Charity Foundation, Secretary Suzanne Dana, 37 Paugassett Rd., Derby, CT 06418, or Alzheimer’s Association, 2075 Silas Dean Hwy., Ste. 100, Rocky Hill, CT 06067, in memory of Helen L. Schetzel. For an online obituary, please visit www.Clancy-PalumboFuneralHome.com.
