Helen T. VanDerzee of Trumansburg passed away at her home on Thursday, January 29, 2009 at the age of 85.

Born in Ithaca on June 8, 1923, Helen was the daughter of Harold C. and Ruth M. VanDusen Teeter. She worked at Olin Library and the State Business Office at Cornell University for 24 years, retiring in 1983. Helen was a member of the Jacksonville Community United Methodist Church for over 40 years, developing many lasting friendships.

Helen was always an integral part of her family member’s lives, willing to drop whatever she was doing to join her children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren in a game of cards or to share with them her prized collection of post cards collected from her travels with her husband Keith. With a twinkle in her eye, Helen would tell them the story, again, how she hopped a train from Ithaca to San Francisco to meet and marry the love of her life on August 18, 1945.  She also shared important events by phone or letters when she and Keith spent 20 winters in Zephyrhills, Florida. Camping excursions were also an opportunity for creating new family memories and sharing the old ones. At home Helen could often be found tending her flowers, listening to music, covering another canvas with her creative and careful painter’s stroke or painstakingly creating an arts and crafts keepsake for a family member or friend.  Her favorite part of any meal was dessert. The loss of Helen’s nurturing presence will weigh heavily on the hearts of those who knew and loved her.

In addition to her parents, Helen was preceded in death by one sister Harriette Gunning and three brothers Harold, David and Richard Teeter. She is survived by her devoted husband Keith; three sons Leon (Patricia), Jack and Thomas (Jane); three grandchildren Nicholas, Wyndie and Lauren; two great-grandchildren Auburn and Dominique; one sister Margaret Fait; two brothers Donald (Velma) and Philip (Scotty) Teeter; three sisters-in-law Mary VanDerzee, Nancy VanDerzee and Freda Teeter and many nieces and nephews.

The family will be present to receive their friends from 1-3 pm on Sunday, February 1, 2009 at the Ness-Sibley Funeral Home, 23 South St., Trumansburg.

A Memorial Service will begin at 3:00 pm on Sunday, at the funeral home, immediately following the calling hours. The Rev. Jim Geuder will officiate. Prayers of Committal, at Grove Cemetery, will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks those who wish to remember Helen in the form of a contribution to kindly consider Hospicare of Tompkins County, 172 E. King Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850 or the Jacksonville Community UMC, P.O. Box 244, Jacksonville, NY 14854.