Helen Hemenway
May 13th, 1928 - November 21st, 2023
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Helen's Obituary
Helen Cecilia Hemenway, 95, of Decatur, MI, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on November, 21, 2023. She was born in Paw Paw, MI on May 13, 1928 to Maurice and Marie White. She was one of 12 children.
Helen met the love of her life, Archie C. Hemenway in 1946 while working at a Tasty Freeze in Paw Paw, MI. One day while she was walking to get change for the business, Archie spotted Helen and felt inclined to honk his horn at her, causing her to drop all the change to the ground. Archie visited the Tasty Freeze several times after this interaction in attempts to persuade Helen to let him take her on a date, but she was so aggravated about the change incident that she repeatedly turned him away. However, his persistence eventually paid off and the rest was history. Excited to start their new lives together, the two were married June 21, 1947 in Paw Paw, MI.
Helen and Archie couldn’t wait to start a family of their own, and their children meant the world to them. Together they had four children, Bob, Sue, Debbie and Jeff. While they were young, Helen was a stay-at-home mom, spending her days tending to her children and helping run the family farm. Once the children were older, Helen worked as a server for several years. Helen loved the holidays and always enjoyed decorating and preparing large holiday meals for her loved ones.
Though Helen loved the holidays, cooking and homemaking, her favorite roll was that as a grandparent. She treasured her time with her grandkids and loved being their beloved “Grandma.” (Even if the grandchildren did stir up many antics on the family’s property – such as, playing in the barn when she had asked them to stay out of it, peeping through the cracks in the wood while Helen yelled from the yard, “you kids better not be in that barn!!”) Helen was blessed with 10 grandchildren in her life, and would later gain 6 step-grandchildren.
Later in life, Helen would gain the title of “GG,” as those 16 grandchildren would lead to 34 great grandchildren, and then 6 great, great grandchildren (with two more on the way!).
Helen had many friends in life, but there were three with whom she was exceptionally close including, Nellie, Norma and Eunice.
Helen will always be remembered for her kindness and warm personality. We’ll always imagine hearing her ask “are you hungry?” one more time. We couldn’t have asked for a better mom, grandma, and GG and will miss her every day. Helen’s memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved her.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents Maurice and Marie White, her husband Archie Hemenway, her brothers; Wally White, David White, Pete White and Maurice White Jr, her sister, Ruth Brunacci, and grandson Scott Hemenway.
Helen is survived by her children; Bob (Carol) Hemenway, Sue (Don) Sampsell, Debbie (Frank) Tuka, and Jeff (Julia) Hemenway, brother Ron White, sisters; Joyce Martin, Judy Cooper, Joan Key, Doris Main, and Peggy Fortier, 16 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren, 6 great, great grandchildren (plus two more on the way!), and a plethora of nieces and nephews.
A private funeral will take place Tuesday, November 28, 2023, followed by a burial at Hamilton Cemetery, Decatur. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation (myasthenia.org) or the Decatur VFW, 560 N. Phelps St., Decatur, in Helen’s name are greatly appreciated.
Helen met the love of her life, Archie C. Hemenway in 1946 while working at a Tasty Freeze in Paw Paw, MI. One day while she was walking to get change for the business, Archie spotted Helen and felt inclined to honk his horn at her, causing her to drop all the change to the ground. Archie visited the Tasty Freeze several times after this interaction in attempts to persuade Helen to let him take her on a date, but she was so aggravated about the change incident that she repeatedly turned him away. However, his persistence eventually paid off and the rest was history. Excited to start their new lives together, the two were married June 21, 1947 in Paw Paw, MI.
Helen and Archie couldn’t wait to start a family of their own, and their children meant the world to them. Together they had four children, Bob, Sue, Debbie and Jeff. While they were young, Helen was a stay-at-home mom, spending her days tending to her children and helping run the family farm. Once the children were older, Helen worked as a server for several years. Helen loved the holidays and always enjoyed decorating and preparing large holiday meals for her loved ones.
Though Helen loved the holidays, cooking and homemaking, her favorite roll was that as a grandparent. She treasured her time with her grandkids and loved being their beloved “Grandma.” (Even if the grandchildren did stir up many antics on the family’s property – such as, playing in the barn when she had asked them to stay out of it, peeping through the cracks in the wood while Helen yelled from the yard, “you kids better not be in that barn!!”) Helen was blessed with 10 grandchildren in her life, and would later gain 6 step-grandchildren.
Later in life, Helen would gain the title of “GG,” as those 16 grandchildren would lead to 34 great grandchildren, and then 6 great, great grandchildren (with two more on the way!).
Helen had many friends in life, but there were three with whom she was exceptionally close including, Nellie, Norma and Eunice.
Helen will always be remembered for her kindness and warm personality. We’ll always imagine hearing her ask “are you hungry?” one more time. We couldn’t have asked for a better mom, grandma, and GG and will miss her every day. Helen’s memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved her.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents Maurice and Marie White, her husband Archie Hemenway, her brothers; Wally White, David White, Pete White and Maurice White Jr, her sister, Ruth Brunacci, and grandson Scott Hemenway.
Helen is survived by her children; Bob (Carol) Hemenway, Sue (Don) Sampsell, Debbie (Frank) Tuka, and Jeff (Julia) Hemenway, brother Ron White, sisters; Joyce Martin, Judy Cooper, Joan Key, Doris Main, and Peggy Fortier, 16 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren, 6 great, great grandchildren (plus two more on the way!), and a plethora of nieces and nephews.
A private funeral will take place Tuesday, November 28, 2023, followed by a burial at Hamilton Cemetery, Decatur. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation (myasthenia.org) or the Decatur VFW, 560 N. Phelps St., Decatur, in Helen’s name are greatly appreciated.
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