WORCESTER-Helen G. Agbay formerly of 1178 Main Street, died Thursday, September 30th in the St. Francis Home. She leaves 2 nephews, Edward N. Sibley of Worcester and Samuel W. Sibley of Kent, OH, 2 grand nephews Michael and Joseph Sibley, 2 grand nieces Kelly and Kathleen Sibley and a great grand niece Krystal Marie.
She was born in Worcester the daughter of Samuel J. and Anne (Daboul) Agbay. Ms. Agbay having fallen in love with foreign languages, graduated from Emmanuel College in Boston (Class of 1930) with a major in both French and Spanish. She later received her Masters from Boston University while also teaching at Everett High School (1936-1953). Ms. Agbay furthered her education with Post Grad work at Harvard University in Italian and the Pan American Institute in Portuguese. Ms. Agbay returned to her native Worcester to devote time in caring for her ailing mother. She taught full time in the Worcester School System and simultaneously managed to become a Visiting Lecturer at Clark University, Assumption College, Quinsigamond Community College and Holy Cross College where she was the first female instructor ever hired. She inaugurated the Foreign Languages for Elementary Schools or the FLES program first in Worcester Parochial Schools and in 1960 in the Worcester Public Schools. During the 60’s she taught Spanish both to the Trappist Monks at St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer and also worked as an interpreter eventually initiating classes in Spanish for the Worcester Police Department and a number of hospital staffs throughout the Worcester area. In 1968 she resigned from the Worcester School System to become a faculty member at Worcester State College. Retired in 1972, awarded Professor Emeritus in 1974, she continued to co-direct the Spanish Summer Institute until 1980. Ms. Agbay, a former President of the New England Chapter of the American Association-Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese and held office in many other professional organizations, she helped to organize the Mass. Foreign Language Association (MaFLA) and served in many of its board positions. In 1973 Helen Agbay was decorated “Lazo de Dama de la Orden del Merito Civil de Espana”, one of Spain’s highest awards. And, in 1989 she received MaFLA's Distinguished Service Award.
The funeral is Tuesday, October 5th from O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue with a Mass at 10:00 AM in Our Lady of the Angels Church, 1222 Main Street. Burial will be in Notre Dame Cemetery. Calling hours are Monday, October 4th from 4:00 until 8:00 PM in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers please make contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, Our Lady of the Angels Church Restoration Fund, 1222 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01603 or St. Joseph’s Abbey, 167 North Spencer Road, Spencer, MA 01562.