Helen K. Gessner

Helen K. Gessner,93 passed away peacefully early Easter morning at the Weeks Hospital in Lancaster, NH. Helen was born in Fitchburg, MA on the first day ofSpring, March 20, 1921. Her parents, John E. and Lisa Hemlin, were hard working and industrious immigrants from Finland and she was one of ten siblings raised in Ashby, MA. An excellent student who taught herself how to read and write Finnish, Helen was also stickler for proper use of English grammar and spelling. Helen met Stanton J. Gessner when he was stationed at Fort Devens ,MA prior to his WWII overseas deployment. They married August 11, 1945 following his return from his service. Helen was employed as a cook for in the Lancaster school system and subsequently as an office clerk at Timberland Machines, Inc. in Lancaster. She volunteered at the Weeks Library and the United Methodist Church. Her interests included reading, cooking and raising raspberries. She was the main cook at most family gatherings, a whiz at crossword puzzles anda strong advocate foreducational opportunities available to family and friends. An avid exerciser, Helen enjoyed daily long walks in all seasons for over a decade with her neighbor and good friend, Rita Whipple. Following the death of her husband in 1996, Helen moved to Hurley, NY to be closer to family. In 2011 she returned to Coos County becoming a resident at the Morrison Nursing Home in Whitefield, NH. There she continued to demonstrate her humility, foreign language skills and wonderful sense of humor. Helen is pre-deceased by her husband and siblings. She is survived by two sons; Dr. James and Ann Gessner of Boston, MA, with daughters Sarah Gessner, Hartford, CT and Abigail Gessner, Boston, MA. Dr. William and Judith Gessner ofWhitefield, NH and their sons, Christopher, his wife Cara Gessner and three month old Isabella of Guangzhou, China and Eric Gessner of Salt Lake City UT. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. A graveside ceremony will be held at noon on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 at the Summer Street Cemetery, Lancaster, NH. Rev. Richard Boyden, pastor of the Christ United Methodist Church, Lancaster, will officiate. Interment will be followed by a brief reception at the United Methodist Church in Lancaster. Donations of remembrance in lieu of flowers may be madeto the Morrison Nursing Home, Whitefield NH or the Weeks Hospital, Lancaster NH.

Helen K. Gessner

March 20, 1921 - April 20, 2014