1928
Helen
2016
Helen O. (Osborne) Wessels
July 13, 1928 — January 8, 2016
Biography
STERLING - Helen O. (Osborne) Wessels, 87, died peacefully in her home town of Sterling on Friday, January 8, 2016. She was born in Worcester on July 13, 1928 to Dr. Edmund C. and Hope D. (Persons) Osborne. She was predeceased by two sisters, Miriam J. Scott and Barbara H. Roebuck. Her husband, Raymond H. Wessels, died in September, 1991. Helen is survived by two daughters, Deborah H. Aquafresca and her husband, Michael and Diane W. Fitch and her partner, Michael Rouleau, all of Sterling; three sons, Andrew R. Wessels and his wife, Barbara of Charleston, WV, Gary D. Wessels and his wife, Brenda of Royalston and Brian L. Wessels and his wife, Tracey of Westminster; a sister, Janice P. Hebb of Ashburnham; ten grandchildren, three great grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Helen was a member of the First Church in Sterling, the Sterling Historical Society and a charter member of the Grafton Wheelers square dance club with her late husband, Ray. In addition to square dancing, they enjoyed line dancing, round dancing and contra dancing. Her hobbies included photography, hand crafts, stamp collecting, day trips, listening to her large collection of recorded music and especially reading. An avid reader, Helen accumulated a large and diverse collection of books. She enjoyed camping from her days in Girl Scouts through trips to Dennisport, Cape Cod with her parents ande sisters in the late 1940s, to family trips with her children and grandchildren. Helen particularly loved Cape Cod.
A graduate of Classical High School in Worcester, Helen attended Framingham State and Worcester State College. She went on to work in a variety of jobs, among them at the Colonial Press in Clinton, at Spag’s in Shrewsbury toy department at Christmas, as a school bus driver, home health aide, police and fire dispatcher, school van driver for special needs students and as a nanny.
Helen was a devoted mother who put the needs of her children before her own and worked hard to give them a better life than she. She had a great love of Christmas and always made it special for her family. Helen loved having grandchildren and great grandchildren, to whom she was known as “Nana”. Family was the most important thing in her life and her greatest accomplishment.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours from 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday, January 15 at Miles-Sterling Funeral Home and Tribute Center, 100 Worcester Rd., Sterling. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 16 at the First Church in Sterling, 6 Meeting House Hill, Sterling. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery, Clinton Rd., Sterling. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Town of Sterling, Ambulance Fund, P.O. Box 515, Sterling, MA 01564 or to the Sterling Historical Society, c/o James Pratt, Treasurer, P.O. Box 356, Sterling, MA 01564. To share a memory or offer an online condolence visit our "Guest Book" here on our page.
Calling Hours
Friday
January 15, 2016
,
3:00
- 7:00PM
at
Miles-Sterling Funeral and Tribute Center
Click for Map and Directions
Funeral Service
Saturday
January 16, 2016
,
10:00 AM
at
First Church in Sterling
Click for Map and Directions
Interment
Saturday
January 16, 2016
,
11:15AM
at
Hillside Cemetery
Click for Map and Directions
STERLING - Helen O. (Osborne) Wessels, 87, died peacefully in her home town of Sterling on Friday, January 8, 2016. She was born in Worcester on July 13, 1928 to Dr. Edmund C. and Hope D. (Persons) Osborne. She was predeceased by two sisters, Miriam J. Scott and Barbara H. Roebuck. Her husband, Raymond H. Wessels, died in September, 1991. Helen is survived by two daughters, Deborah H. Aquafresca and her husband, Michael and Diane W. Fitch and her partner, Michael Rouleau, all of Sterling; three sons, Andrew R. Wessels and his wife, Barbara of Charleston, WV, Gary D. Wessels and his wife, Brenda of Royalston and Brian L. Wessels and his wife, Tracey of Westminster; a sister, Janice P. Hebb of Ashburnham; ten grandchildren, three great grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Helen was a member of the First Church in Sterling, the Sterling Historical Society and a charter member of the Grafton Wheelers square dance club with her late husband, Ray. In addition to square dancing, they enjoyed line dancing, round dancing and contra dancing. Her hobbies included photography, hand crafts, stamp collecting, day trips, listening to her large collection of recorded music and especially reading. An avid reader, Helen accumulated a large and diverse collection of books. She enjoyed camping from her days in Girl Scouts through trips to Dennisport, Cape Cod with her parents ande sisters in the late 1940s, to family trips with her children and grandchildren. Helen particularly loved Cape Cod.
A graduate of Classical High School in Worcester, Helen attended Framingham State and Worcester State College. She went on to work in a variety of jobs, among them at the Colonial Press in Clinton, at Spag’s in Shrewsbury toy department at Christmas, as a school bus driver, home health aide, police and fire dispatcher, school van driver for special needs students and as a nanny.
Helen was a devoted mother who put the needs of her children before her own and worked hard to give them a better life than she. She had a great love of Christmas and always made it special for her family. Helen loved having grandchildren and great grandchildren, to whom she was known as “Nana”. Family was the most important thing in her life and her greatest accomplishment.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours from 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday, January 15 at Miles-Sterling Funeral Home and Tribute Center, 100 Worcester Rd., Sterling. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 16 at the First Church in Sterling, 6 Meeting House Hill, Sterling. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery, Clinton Rd., Sterling. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Town of Sterling, Ambulance Fund, P.O. Box 515, Sterling, MA 01564 or to the Sterling Historical Society, c/o James Pratt, Treasurer, P.O. Box 356, Sterling, MA 01564. To share a memory or offer an online condolence visit our "Guest Book" here on our page.
Calling Hours
Friday
January 15, 2016
,
3:00
- 7:00PM
at
Miles-Sterling Funeral and Tribute Center
Click for Map and Directions
Funeral Service
Saturday
January 16, 2016
,
10:00 AM
at
First Church in Sterling
Click for Map and Directions
Interment
Saturday
January 16, 2016
,
11:15AM
at
Hillside Cemetery
Click for Map and Directions
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Helen O. (Osborne) Wessels, please visit our flower store.
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