Helen J. Falvey

A Gentle And

Kind Person

Helen Jane Falvey, 89, died peacefully on October 13 at her residence in Princeton, N.J.

Born in Ossining, N.Y., a daughter of John and Margaret McCall Hoar, Mrs Falvey resided in Ossining until 1948, when she and her husband, Patrick Falvey, moved to Connecticut.

In 1958, Helen and Pat and their children, Susan and Peter, moved to Newtown, which was Helen’s home for more than 40 years. Four years ago, Helen moved to New Jersey to live closer to her son and daughter.

Helen loved life and was always joyful. She was gentle and kind and had a way of always making people feel good about themselves when they were with her. She always noticed beauty around her and took pleasure in the simple things in life. She was also very creative and that creativity was reflected in her charming home in Newtown.

Helen had many interesting jobs through her lifetime. In the 1930s and 1940s she worked in New York City for a famous jewelry designer and craftsman, Francisco Rebajes. Helen worked at his stores in Greenwich Village and on Fifth Avenue. Mr Rebajes and his wife Pauline remained lifelong friends of Helen’s.

When living in Newtown, Helen worked at The Connecticut Shop, Molly’s Flower Shop, and Mrs Anderson’s Food Store, and was a personal secretary for a local resident. She also kept property records for George Cladis, who owned the property where the Falveys lived. Mr and Mrs Cladis and Helen formed a lifelong friendship.

In addition, for more than 20 years, Helen worked for Dr Lawrence Daum, a dentist in Newtown. Dr Daum also became a dear friend of Helen’s. In later years, Helen worked for another dentist, Dr Steven Landin.

Helen was predeceased by her husband, Patrick, and also by her sisters Mary McCue, Margaret Meader, and Agnes Henning, and a brother, John Hoar.

She is survived by her children, Susan Johnson of Princeton, N.J., and Peter Falvey of Lawrenceville, N.J.; son-in-law Carl Johnson of Princeton; her grandchildren, Haleigh Johnson of Chicago and Peter Johnson of Princeton; nieces Betty Ann McCue Orlando of Ossining, N.Y., and Mary Jane McCue Mastroberardino and her husband Joseph of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and her nephew Peter Henning and his wife Donna of New Milford, Conn., and Daytona Beach, Fla. Helen is also survived by her beloved friends Tom Quinn of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and the Orlowski sisters, formerly of Newtown.

In keeping with Helen’s wishes, she will be cremated and a memorial service will be held at St Rose of Lima Church, 46 Church Hill Road in Newtown, on Saturday, October 25, at 11:30 am.

In lieu of flowers, memorials honoring Helen to may be made The Princeton Hospice Memorial Fund, 253 Witherspoon Street, Princeton NJ 08540-9914, or the charity of one’s choice.

The Newtown Bee        October 17, 2008