Obituary of Margaret H. Helmes

Margaret Healy Helmes, mother of 8, grandmother of 24 and great grandmother of 6, died peacefully on Monday, January 16, 2023 and was a lifelong resident of Katonah for 100 years.

Margaret was born March 18^th, 1922 in White Plains, NY, although until the age of 94, she had always believed and was told that her birthday was March 17^th.  A St. Patrick’s Day birthday was always celebrated by her family and friends. She was the oldest child of five, born to May and Augustine Healy in 1922.  She is predeceased by brother Joseph Healy, sisters Claire Reynolds and May Lowney and survived by youngest brother Augustine Healy of New Jersey.

Margaret is also predeceased by her loving husband Bruce, in 2017.  Although married for 70 years, they were together since they were 16 years old.  Bruce, a native of Katonah, attended Katonah High School and Margaret went to St. Mary’s School. Margaret is also predeceased by a daughter Peggy, in 2010.

In September of 1947 Margaret and Bruce were married at St. Mary’s in Katonah and with God’s blessings, they had eight children, 6 sons and 2 daughters and now 24 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren: Philip (Kathi), of Marblehead, MA; their children: (Brian, Julie, Jessica and Caroline); Peter (Marjie) of New Fairfield, CT (Sean, Alexandra, and Molly); Bruce (Andrea) of Cedartown, GA (Bruce, Scott, Kyle, Michael and Rachel); Steven (Rosa) of Katonah, NY  (Cristina, Charles and Briana); Kevin (Digna) of White Plains, NY (Ashley); Peggy (Nicholas and Emily); Barbara (Van Muller) of Pound Ridge, NY; (Stephen, Timothy, Kevin and Kate); and David (Yummy) of South Salem, NY (Maggie and Annie).

Margaret attended St. Mary’s School in Katonah, and as her high school yearbook describes, was a model student, quiet, unassuming, modest and studious and a supporter in all school activities.  Margaret went to Woods Secretarial School in NYC and worked for Reader’s Digest in Chappaqua and then at Emigrant Savings Bank in New York City.

In 1947 She and Bruce were married at St. Mary’s in Katonah, where for the next 70 years she would go to daily Mass and was a dedicated volunteer at St. Mary’s.  With 8 children, a household to run and her husband’s architectural business run out of the house in Katonah, Margaret was on the move all the time.

Margaret and her husband Bruce enjoyed great vacations on Cape Cod with their children and grandchildren and many years sailing on the Long Island Sound.

Most remarkable with Margaret, is that she was always content.  In her words, she was “happy as a clam” and was never one to complain.  Her organizational skills and preparedness with holidays and events always made for celebrations that went smoothly. Her goodness has always been very behind the scenes, from volunteering as a CCD teacher, doing work for St. Mary’s Church, giving people rides, and basically doing anything that was asked. Margaret was truly a special woman who taught us all the power of love, kindness, acceptance and being non-judgmental.

Her family will receive friends at Clark Associates Funeral Home, 4 Woods Bridge Rd, Katonah on Monday, Jan 23 from 4-8 pm.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, Jan 24 at 11:00 am at St. Mary of the Assumption RC Church, 55 Valley Rd, Katonah, NY. 

Interment will be private. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Church.