Helen K. Ford
Wife, Mom, Grammy, Aunt and Friend. Born in Brooklyn, New York on July 21, 1924 to August Knott Koren and Morris Koren, resident of Ithaca for 63 years, died at the home of her daughter in Spencer, NY on Sept 25, 2018. Predeceased by her husband of 59 years Jack Ford, by brother Harold Koren and sister Rosalie Stern. She was 94 years young.
Mom’s work ethic was unmatched. She was employed at Cornell University as an administrative secretary in the Department of Electrical Engineering, starting in May 1965, and then secretary to Assistant Superintendent of Ithaca City School District for thirty-one years, until June 1997. For many years she ran Ithaca City School Board elections where her presence continues to be missed.
Mom was passionate about words of all types. She loved opera and the theatre, was a voracious reader and master of any word game. She was an enthusiastic family photographer and created 37 beautifully detailed photo albums chronicling our families life and adventures. She loved the out doors and all animals, was a passionate gardener and also an avid recycler for over 60 years. Like many women of her generation she was skilled in the arts of sewing, knitting, crocheting and also illustration.
Survived by loving daughters Patricia (Earl Gaden), of Spencer NY, Kathleen (Vincent Rojas) of Pasadena, CA, and Margaret (Wesley Wells) of Ithaca NY and loving son William (Mary Lou) Ford of Porter, TX. Grammy to Kammy, Christian (Sarah) and Paul Gaden, Alec and Eric Rojas, Stephanie Ford (Gibran) Solis, Christina Ford, Brent and Trevor Wells, and adored great grandsons Grant Gaden and Luca Solis, and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Fr. Joe Marcoux of St Catherine of Siena Catholic Church for providing comfort to Helen in her final days, to Lourdes Hospice, Vestal NY and to her aides Melissa and Esther for their care. We are also humbled by the love and prayers given to Mom and our family during this time by Mom’s devoted friend Mary Lou Bailey Smith.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday October 6, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church with Fr. Joseph Marcoux officiating. Pallbearers include Kammy, Christian and Paul Gaden, Alec and Eric Rojas, Stephanie Ford Solis, Christina Ford and Brent and Trevor Wells. Friends may call from 10:00 to 11:00 prior to Mass. Burial to follow at Willow Glen Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Ithaca NY or your local SPCA.
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