Elizabeth (Weinstein) Helferich

Elizabeth Weinstein Helferich, 86, of Windsor Locks, CT, and Bangor, ME, died Friday, March 16, 2012. She was born January 9, 1926 in Peabody, MA, daughter of Harry and Bessie (Shachatovitz) Weinstein. Elizabeth, called Lili as a young girl, moved to Newark, NJ and grew up in her parents’ Confectionery and Luncheonette. After high school , during World War II, she volunteered to work on farms in Vermont and at an aircraft factory in Arizona to assist in the war effort. Elizabeth moved to Connecticut to attend Hilyer College. She went to work as a switchboard operator at G. Fox & Co. and the Statler Hilton. She remained in telecommunications as chief operator at Combustion Engineering ABB for 17 years. She then went to work at Sweet Life Foods until 1993. She started a third career at Geissler’s Supermarket in Windsor, CT, where she enjoyed providing customer service to disabled customers, the high school cooking class and toddlers until her final retirement at age 84. Elizabeth was one of the original members of Congregation Beth Ahm in Windsor. She was also a member of the I.O.O.F. Princess Rebekkah Lodge No. 68, CE-ABB Retiree Club, and the Post 36 American Legion Auxiliary. She taught English to Jewish immigrants from Russia. She was an avid reader and patron of the library and donated books to the elementary school reading program. Elizabeth was most proud of her three children and her home in Windsor Locks where she lived for fifty years. She was predeceased by her parents, brother Sam, sisters Minnie and Eva and her son Steven. She leaves a daughter and son-in-law, Patti and Lou Kornreich of Bangor, ME and a son and daughter-in-law, David and Cindy Helferich of Lyndeborough, NH, seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Funeral Services will be held on Sunday, March 18, 2012 at 4:30 pm in the Chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Ave., Hartford with Rabbi Brahm Weinberg officiating. Interment will follow in the Hartford Mutual Society Cemetery, East Granby. Shiva will be at 7 Farmstead Lane, West Hartford, Sunday through Tuesday and at 21 East Summer Street, Bangor, ME Wednesday evening through Sunday morning. Memorial donations may be made to the Young Israel of West Hartford, 2240 Albany Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117. For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Elizabeth, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm