Helen Clark Jewett, age 94, of Morrisville, Vermont, died peacefully on December 21, 2013 with family by her side. She was born on October 4, 1919 in Elmore, Vermont to the late Leo and Myra (Blake) Gould. Helen married George C. Clark on October 14, 1938. They were married for 52 years until George’s unexpected death in 1990. After 9 years alone, she remarried Silas H. Jewett on July 17, 1999. They were married for 13 years, until his death on New Year’s Eve, 2012.
Helen grew up on the family farm in Elmore and graduated from Peoples Academy in Morrisville. After attending Vermont College in Montpelier, she worked as a secretary for the school superintendent in Morrisville until she started her family. As her children grew, she provided day care for a few local children. After her older three children went to college, Helen worked at the New England Telephone office in Morrisville for several years. In retirement, she volunteered at the Copley Hospital Gift Shop and at the Second Chance store, where she enjoyed selling to the needy as well as buying for herself.
Helen loved music and played alto saxophone in high school and after with two friends, entertaining for special functions. At one of these events, she and her future husband were attracted to each other “in their shy country way”, but did not date until several months later. Helen and “Jo”, as she fondly called him, lived in Morrisville throughout their marriage. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker. She loved singing, dancing, cooking delicious casseroles, breads and desserts, sewing beautiful clothes, knitting and crocheting hats, mittens, scarves, and afghans. She and Jo tended their flower and vegetable gardens each summer from which she preserved enough food to last the winter.
Helen provided love and support to all of her family. Being with her grandchildren gave her much pleasure and a good excuse to bake cookies. They remember great times with their grandparents skiing, snowmobiling, baking, and eating brook trout they had just caught fishing with their grandpa.
Helen was a true disciple and servant of Christ. Throughout her adult life she was very involved in the First Congregational Church in Morrisville, serving as a Sunday school teacher and superintendent and as a deaconess. She was an active leader in the Women’s Fellowship, participating in many projects including the Christmas Bazaar, church suppers and visiting the homebound.
A few years after the death of Jo, Helen designed herself a new house in which she took much pride. Then, at an ecumenical Thanksgiving Eve service she happened to sit beside Silas Jewett. Their relationship started with supper and a game of cribbage and developed into their loving marriage.
Helen is survived by her youngest brother Leo Gould and wife Sonia; a son, David Clark and wife Lynne; three daughters, Delia Clark, Dawn Plante and husband Ronald, and Diann Clark and partner Jackie Boucher; seven grandchildren, Lisa Clark Remillard, David Clark, Kathryn Plante Anastassopoulos, Karen Plante, Kali, Lauren, and Dylan Clark-Boucher; five great grandchildren, Nicole, Nikolas and Alexander Anastassopoulos, and Aidan and Brendan Clark; and several cousins, nieces and nephews. Helen is also predeceased by three sisters, Shirley, Leone, and Lois, and a brother, Philip.
Visitation will be Monday, December 30, 2013 from 4 – 7 p.m. at A. W. Rich Funeral Home – Essex Chapel, 57 Main Street. A funeral service will be held Tuesday, December 31, 2013, 11 a.m. at First Congregational Church, Morrisville. Burial will be in the spring in Pleasant View Cemetery in Morrisville. On line condolences may be made to www.awrfh.com.
Memorial contributions in Helen’s honor may be given to a local charity of one’s choice. The family of Helen Jewett wishes to thank the loving caregivers from Home Instead Senior Care and at The Arbors who have assisted us in her care these past few years.