Helga L. Whalen

Helga Whalen was born on March 14, 1928 in Norwood, MA, daughter of the late Gunnar and Elvi (Sundberg) Gottberg. When she was six years old, Helga returned with her family to their native Åland, an island off the coast of Sweden, where her shipbuilder father was looking for work. Though, upon their arrival the Gottbergs found jobs scarce on the island, the ongoing war impeded their return to America. Helga spent the entirety of her second grade year in Åland with her parents and older brother, Harold, before going back to her Norwood school. Despite the difficulties of resuming an American education after a year of learning in Swedish, Helga was able to bridge the language gap—not only for herself, but for her Swedish-speaking mother as well. She excelled in school from the start, and by the time of her graduation from Norwood High School in 1946, she was easily among the top of her class. Her deep love of learning and desire to teach others made her a great candidate for a college education; however, she lived at a time when, as her father insisted, “college was simply not for girls.”

She went on instead to become a secretary at a Norwood lumber yard. One day, a delivery came in while she was standing on her desk to change a lightbulb. The driver took one look at Helga and couldn’t help but whistle at her legs. That night, she told her father she had met the man she was going to marry. On June 3, 1950 she married the love of her life, Francis C. Whalen in Norwood, MA.

Helga and Fran moved to Rutland, VT in 1954, where they lived for ten years. In 1964, they moved to Brewster, NY, with their three children: Laurie, 5; Stephen, 3; and Julie, who was fed her first meal in their new home’s family room while still under construction. They lived in this home for over 50 years. The door was always open to family, friends and neighbors. It was here that Helga’s love radiated most, offering meals and a welcoming smile to all who would visit.

In her years spent at home, Helga had been greatly involved in the community and in the lives of her children. She served as a Cub Scout den mother for several years, but the time she spent as a Girl Scout leader was what she has been most remembered for. Even upwards of thirty years later, she and her children had been approached by former Girl Scouts wishing to express their thanks. All of these girls—now women—remember Helga fondly as an enthusiastic and considerate leader; someone as full of understanding and kindness as clever crafts and camping plans. At Trinity Lutheran Church in Brewster, where she has been a member for many years, Helga volunteered in a variety of positions, including that of treasurer for WELCA, the ladies group at the church. Her adult life was filled with luncheons and other events with the ladies, and Christmas became synonymous with the annual Trinity Lutheran craft fair. She was always clipping ornament inspirations from magazines, and had been known to stay up late sewing pillows or adding those finishing touches. Helga spent her later career working as a secretary for Cooperative Extension of Putnam County and retired after more than 20 years of service. She enjoyed her time with the county and was especially proud of “running the computer” to create monthly newsletters.

Throughout all this, Helga and Fran seemed never to miss a family event. Family was of paramount importance to them both, and they showed it in their unique ways. Helga was quiet, calm, but she was always there, always ready to listen. Her presence became a significant part of the Whalen family dynamic, her caring nature a perpetual comfort to those around her.

Helga is survived by her three children: Laurie Whalen Jahnke of Round Rock, TX; Stephen Whalen of Brewster, NY; and Julie Troiano of Pawling, NY; as well as six grandchildren, Sean, Elyse, Joelle, Luke, Leigh, and Aaron; and two great-grandchildren, Nolan and Liam. During some of the most joyful years of her life, these children were her students—her dream of teaching realized even in the absence of the college degree she had longed for in her youth. She spent countless hours sharing knowledge with and fostering a love of learning in her grandchildren, through backyard explorations, afternoon walks, or even something as simple as making a sandwich. Fittingly, her last healthy day was spent with family, celebrating the graduation of one of these “pupils."

A funeral service will be held on Friday, July 15, 2016 11:00am at Trinity Lutheran Church, Route 6, Brewster, NY. Interment will follow at Peach Pond Cemetery, North Salem, NY. Friends may call at the Beecher Funeral Home, 1 Putnam Avenue, Brewster on July 14, 2016 from 4pm-8pm. www.Beecherfuneralhome.com

Contributions in Helga’s memory can be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church, Route 6, Brewster, NY 10509.