Helen Brown

Cobleskill- Helen F. Brown, formerly of Cobleskill, died Saturday, January 9, 2016 at Palatine Bridge Nursing Home where she had been a resident for the past five years.

Helen was born May 28, 1921 in Cobleskill, the daughter of Claude and Frances (Foland) Gorse. She graduated from the former Cobleskill Central School in 1940.

Helen was a long time member of the Lawyersville Reformed Church and the Seward Valley Grange for many years.

She married Raymond L. Brown of June 28, 1940 and was a self-taught seamstress. She sewed beautiful clothing for herself, her daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Helen also embroidered many pillowcases and scarves. She did plastic canvas and baby sets, too.

Helen always had time for others, giving them respect, love, and understanding.

She was predeceased by her husband, Raymond; son, Douglas; her parents; brother, Kenneth Gorse; sister-in-law, Alice Gorse; sister, Aleta Snyder; brother-in-law, LeRoy Snyder; son-in-law, Chet Clegg; and granddaughter, Lisa Clegg.

Survivors include two daughters: Margaret (Richard) Springstead of East Schodack and Antoinette Clegg of Cobleskill; two granddaughters: Deborah (Gary) Bishop of Maryland and Heather (Mohammed) Kamal of Cobleskill and Egypt; six great-grandchildren: Megan, Rachel, and Stephen Bishop of Maryland, Kristen Steidle and her fiancé, Edward Dufek of Schenectady, Kasey and Connor Steidle of Cobleskill; two nieces: Deborah (Steven) Horowitz of Fairport, Tina (Scott) Edwards of PA and two nephews: Michael (Trish) Gorse of Monroe and William (Diane) Gorse of Alabama.

A private graveside service will be held at Chatham Center Cemetery, Chatham, NY and a memorial service will be held this spring at Lawyersville Reformed Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Lawyersville Reformed Church, PO Box 421, Cobleskill, NY 12043.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home, 171 Elm St., Cobleskill and Palmer & Shaylor Funeral Home of Middleburgh.