COURTESY
WINDSOR, Vt. — Helen M. Rich, age 94, formerly of Boynton Beach, Florida, passed away May 9, 2019 at the Village of Cedar Hill in Windsor, Vermont with her daughters by her side. Helen was born July 3, 1924 in Providence, Rhode Island to Clarence F. and Mary P. (Holmes) Odell. She married Stephen D. Rich, of Barrington, Rhode Island on January 22, 1949. Her husband predeceased her on April 15, 2010.
In her early years she had many fond memories of spending summers on the family farm and later modeling and singing in nightclubs in the big band era. After marriage, she moved to Massachusetts where she spent many years raising her daughters, then working for Buxtons in West Springfield and Fenwal in Ashland, Massachusetts. During that time summers were spent at the family cottage on Cape Cod where she enjoyed boating, fishing, clamming and swimming. She was able to achieve her lifelong dream of owning horses and spent many hours grooming and riding. She retired to Florida and continued her love of being near the ocean.
She leaves behind two daughters, Cheryl Bailey and her husband Robert of Charlestown and Deborah Williams and her husband John of Saxtons River, Vermont; six grandchildren, Stephen Bailey and Amy of Drewsville, Gabriel Bailey and Rebecca of Charlestown, Charles Bailey and Jennifer of Bozeman, Montana, Courtney Cania and Sal of West Lebanon and Scott and Casey Tosches of New Bedford, Massachusetts. She also leaves 14 great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and her good friends at Cedar Hill. She was predeceased by her parents, husband, two brothers, Russell and Kenneth Odell of Rhode Island, and Donald W. Wright.
At the request of family services will be private.
Arrangements are with Stringer Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 146 Broad Street, Claremont, NH 03743. To view an online memorial or send a private message of condolence, visit www.stringerfh.com.
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