West Lebanon, N.H. —
She was born Oct. 9, 1926, in Manchester, Conn., the eldest of three children of Frederick and Helen (Hayes) Shea. She graduated from Black River Academy in Ludlow, Vt. and later from Castleton Teachers College. She was married to Alfonzo Orizzonto June 23, 1951 and they made their home in West Lebanon for most of their married lives. Helen began her teaching career in a one-room school house but taught at the White River Elementary School for over three decades before retiring in the mid 1980’s.
In her retirement, Helen cared for her adoring husband and extended family. Since she was a child Helen always cared for others and always watched over her brother and sister with much love and care. She was also quick witted and enjoyed a good joke
Helen was a past member of Holy Redeemer Church in West Lebanon and a longtime member of St. Anthony Church in White River Jct. She enjoyed reading, watching old movies and playing cards and board games with competitive zeal, she especially loved to travel.
Helen was admired and loved for her kind nature and generous spirit by all who knew her and is fondly remembered by her nieces and nephews as a second mom. She was loved and will be missed by many.
She was predeceased by her parents and a sister Marianne Shea Ferrell.
She is survived by her husband, Alfonzo, of West Lebanon; a brother, Wilfred Michael “Buddy” Shea of Raleigh, N.C.; a sister-in-law, Mary Orizzonto of West Lebanon; brother-in-law, Howard Ferrell of Edmond, Okla.; as well as 17 nieces and nephews and many grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 6, 2017, at St. Anthony Church in White River Jct. with burial following in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery also in Whiter River Jct.
Condolences may be expressed to Helen’s family in an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com.
Contributions in her memory may be made to St. Anthony Church, 15 Church Street, White River Jct., VT 05001.