GILFORD, NH-----Helen Gestring Denley 94, of Morrill Street, died, Wednesday, July 26, 2017 surrounded by her loving family.
Helen was born in Columbus, Montana on July 19, 1923. She was the daughter of ColJohn F. Gestring (US Army Retired) and Vera (Griffith) Gestring. She had one sister, Colleen Felch Gianella (Deceased).
Helen Graduated with the 1941 class of Pocatello High School, Pocatello, Idaho and was one of only two recipients of the National Honor Society. She completed one year at the University of Utah and then graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1946 with a degree in Liberal Arts. She was a lifelong member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority. Being a "Military Brat", Helen moved at least 16 times in her young life before meeting her husband, Gordon Palmer Denley of Saugus, Massachusetts.
Helen relocated to the East coast where she married Gordon on September 7, 1946. The couple resided in Beverly, Massachusetts where they raised their children. During that time, Helen was actively involved in her church, the community and prided herself on being a Cub Scout den mother for ten years. She was employed in the office of Kelleher Fuel Company. Together she and Gordon built a camp on Welch Island,Lake Winnipesaukee that was an anchor for the family then and still is today.
Helen and Gordon relocated to Gilford, NH in 1991 to be closer to their camp and to start a new life in the community. Once again, Helen devoted much time to her church and her family. She and Gordon began travelling to Florida in the winter and taking extensive trips with the Appalachian Mountain Club, hiking in the US and abroad. They drove across the United States and back six times or more.
Helen was an avid reader, a passionate gardener, a forever-faithful fan of the Boston Red Sox and believed that jelly beans were a nutritional food source.
Helen is survived by her devoted husband of seventy two years, Gordon P. Denley of Gilford, NH, her three children and their families; John Denley, DMD, retired and his wife, Susan of Readsboro, VT, Diane Hebold and her husband, Walter of Casco, Maine and Attorney William Denley and his wife, Susan of Sanbornville, NH. She is also survived by 8grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren scattered about the world from Costa Rica to North Carolina.
A memorial service will be held at 11AM on the Friday of Labor Day Weekend, September 1, 2017 at the Gilford Community Church, 19 Potter Hill Road, Gilford, NH.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the memorial fund of the GilfordCommunity Church, 19 Potter Hill Road, Gilford, NH 03249 or the Shriners Hospital for Children, C/O Office of Development, 2900Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home &Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH is assisting the family with the arrangements.