Obituary of Helen Mary Willsea

Helen Mary Willsea entered into the arms of Jesus on September 23, 2023.  She lived at Walnut Hills Apartments in Haverstraw, NY where her grandfather was born and attended St. Peters Church where he was baptized. 

The daughter of Edward A. Daly, Jr., and Helen Poirier Daly, she was born on May 9, 1944, in Yonkers, NY.  Her father was killed in WWII at St. Lo France on July 31, 1944, so her and her brother Edward A Daly III never knew him.  She was raised by her mother Helen with the help of her grandparents, Albert F. Poirier, and May Poirier Sweeney.  And when her mother passed away on January 2, 1961, from leukemia, her grandparents continued to raise her and her brother and always treated them like a son and daughter. 

Helen went to St. Denis School, Nathaniel Hawthorne Junior High School, and Commerce High School in Yonkers where she graduated in 1962. 

She married William John Joseph Willsea at Judge Landy’s house in Yonkers, NY on February 17, 1968, and in 1970, they moved to Walden, NY.  William passed away on July 3, 1983, from lung cancer.  After which Helen had a longtime companion, Lennart A. Bard, who passed away on August 8, 1994.   

Throughout Helen’s life, she had many different occupations.  Two of her favorite jobs were being a Parking Enforcement Officer for the Yonkers Police Department, and as a Corrections Officer at the Women’s Unit of the Westchester Correctional Facility.  She worked at the Corrections Facility until 1985, when she retired after 14 ½ years of service.  

Helen enjoyed life and was a die-hard Yankees fan and she enjoyed watching games with her husband.  She also enjoyed going to see the Rockland Boulders at Provident Park once a month with three of her best friends.  Helen loved to travel and travelled worldwide with her friends.  She was an avid scrapbooker where she captured all the fun memories of her travels.  She belonged to the Meals on Wheels of Rockland in Haverstraw, NY.  She belonged to the Haverstraw Seniors Club where she did ceramics.  Helen made beautiful ceramics for many of her friends and family and said her goal in life was to make people happy.  She belonged to the Walnut Hill Seniors Club where she lived.  She was the Correspondence Secretary.   

Helen frequently attended Mass at St. Peter’s – St. Mary’s Church in Haverstraw, NY.  Where she enjoyed bringing the communion gifts up to the alter.  She enjoyed going to Sparky’s Diner and Hogan’s Family Diner where she had many friends and did ceramics for them.  She enjoyed going out to eat with her close friends and going out to celebrate special occasions with them.  Helen was proud to be called “the resident taxi driver” for her friends.  

Helen had three stepdaughters, Darlene, Violet, and JoAnn.  She also has several step-grandchildren and step great-grandchildren.  She is survived by her cousin Kathy Cramer, Kathy’s husband Vincent and their 3 children.  Additionally, she is survived by three step-nephews, Christopher, Kenneth, and Raymond Hutter.  Lastly, Helen was predeceased by her brother, Captain Edward Daly (Yonkers Police Department) who she loved dearly. 

Authored by Helen Willsea in her own words.