Obituary of Helene S. Colburn

BEACON FALLS- Mrs. Helene S. (Marcheski) Colburn, 91, of Beacon Falls, passed away Monday Dec. 14, 2015 in the VITAS Hospice Unit at St. Mary’s Hospital. She was the widow of Stanley L. Colburn who passed away in 1990 after 45 years of marriage. Mrs. Colburn was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., April 16, 1924, a daughter of the late Walter and Mary (Ludzinki) Marcheski and was educated in the local school system. She was a graduate of Swanhaka High School in Floral Park, N.Y. She had resided in the Boroughs of New York and Long Island, and had served as a school Secretary at two schools in New York, prior to moving to Beacon Falls with her husband in 1953. She was Secretary at Laurel Ledge School for over 46 years, retiring in 2009 at the age of 84. She had worked for 11 principals and at least 8 superintendents during her career. She enjoyed working with the different parent groups at the school and the many students and parents she befriended over the years. She had received numerous honors and awards during her career for all that she had done for the school system and the children of Beacon Falls, including being named “Women of the Year “ in 1979 and again in 1992 by the Beacon Falls Junior Women’s Club. She had also been honored by the Cub Scouts and had been honored for her work on the Bond Commission during WW II, and the American Red Cross for her volunteer service of over 5000 hours . She was an active communicant of St. Michaels Roman Catholic Church and enjoyed her retirement spending time with her family and all her friends. She is survived by her children, Russell W. Colburn of Stuart, Fl., Ted Colburn of Naugatuck, and Mary Lou Pederson of Quinebaug, CT.; a brother Theodore March of Glen Cove, N.Y. and her sister, Celia Niosi of New Hyde Park, N.Y.; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her daughter Celia Yohman in 2003. Her funeral will be held on Saturday Dec. 19, 2015 at 9:15 a.m. from the Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Naugatuck, 201 Meadow St. and proceed to St. Michael’s Church 25 Maple Ave., Beacon Falls for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery, Cross St., Naugatuck. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Beacon Hose Co. No. 1 and Ambulance, 35 No. Main St., Beacon Falls, 06403-1169 or St. Michael’s Church, 25 Maple St. Beacon Falls, 06403-1145.