Obituary of Helen Bray

Helen E. Bray of Kensington Greens in Southbury, CT. passed away quietly April 3, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. at Danbury Hospital after a brief hospitalization. Helen was one of 5 children of Albert Richard Bray and Grace Wells Bray. She was born July 30, 1915 in Passaic, New Jersey and was a longtime resident of Cheshire, CT. before moving to Heritage Village in Southbury in 1983 to be near her siblings who she held so dear. She is survived by her brother Richard Bray of Southbury, her sisters Doris Platt also of Southbury and Jane Geiger of Cape Cod, MA, and was predeceased by her brother Robert W. Bray of Texas. Helen was employed by the Town of Cheshire for 37 years as an English Teacher at Humiston School and then became the first female Principal of Chapman School and elementary supervisor for the Town of Cheshire. Helen was a devoted long time communicant of Saint Peter's Episcopal Church of Cheshire, where she joyfully served as an organist, senior warden, church school superintendent, vestry woman, lay reader and chalicist. Helen was Saint Peter's first woman lay reader and established the church archives and served as archivist and historian for ten years. She was the author of Saint Peter's: an Informal History, Aurora Press 1985 and devoted many years in this venture. Helen also found and restored relics from the church which are still on display to this day. She also played the carolan at the Cheshire Academy for many years. Helen was a truly unique, wonderful, spiritual, devoted family woman, who touched all who knew her with her values and stories. She was a devoted aunt to seven nieces and nephews and six great nieces and nephews and one great great nephew and shared herself openly to her family, friends and strangers. She truly lived her favorite prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi. We will miss her dearly. A memorial service at Saint Peter's Episcopal in Cheshire will be announced by her family at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Saint Peter's Episcopal Church Memorial Fund 59 Main Street Cheshire, CT. 06410. The Alderson funeral Home of Cheshire has care of arrangements.