Obituary of Karen R. Helmes

KAREN R. HELMES Latham- Karen R. Helmes, 63 of Latham, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 14 at Community Hospice Inn at St. Peter's in Albany. Born in New Berlin, NY on October 29, 1946, she was the daughter of the late Bernard W. and Beatrice (Fuller) Ritchey. She was a graduate of Edmeston Central School and the Albany Medical Center School of Nursing. It was on March 16, 1968 that she married Richard P. Helmes. The two shared a blessed union of 29 years prior to his passing in 1997. Karen worked as an RN at Albany Medical Center until 1973; she then became a dedicated homemaker, tending to the needs of her family with the utmost of care. Some of her favorite pastimes were; camping, bowling, knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, cross-stitch and genealogy research. She was also a member of the Colonie Elks #2192 and a communicant of Our Lady of the Assumption Church. Karen is survived by her loving daughters: Pamela (Doug) Mercier of Gorham, ME, Deborah Helmes of Latham and Sandra (Sean) Kiley of Merrimac, MA, her 4 cherished grandchildren; Jordanne, Ethan, Emma and Ryan as well as her siblings: Bernadine (Henry) Frate, Raye (John) Arnold, James (Anna Mae) Ritchey, Allan (Louise) Ritchey, Theodore (Rebecca) Ritchey and Kurt Ritchey. The family would like to thank the volunteers and staff of the American Cancer Society and the friends at ACS Hope Club for their care and compassion, and to her many special neighbors and friends with special mention to Patty Kolak for all their love and support. Relatives and friends are invited and may call Sunday from 2-5 PM at Dufresne & Cavanaugh Funeral Home, Ltd., 149 Old Loudon Road, Latham, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday at 10:00 am at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 498 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Latham. Fr. James Daley will officiate In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society, 260 Osborne Rd., Loudonville, NY 12211 or to the ACS Hope Club, 1 Penny Lane, Latham, NY 12110 Interment will take place in St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands. For directions, information or to light a memory candle for the family please visit www.dufresneandcavanaugh.com