Obituary of Helen R. Sylvester

OLMSTEDVILLE: Helen Rose (Croniser) Sylvester, 101 of Olmstedville, NY passed away at her residence on September 18, 2023.

Helen was born on Mohawk Hill, Boonville, NY to the late Edward and Amanda (Kraeger) Croniser on March 29, 1922.  She was the second oldest of six children, having two sisters and three brothers to grow up with on their family farm.  She attended a rural school until transferring to Constableville High School in the seventh grade.  She graduated from there in June 1941 as salutatorian of her class.

At the end of December 1941, she moved to Rome, NY and worked at Rome Cable Corporation during the war years.  She met her future husband, Harold, during this time while he worked at Rome Air Base.  They were married on October 23, 1948 and moved to the Adirondacks where they lived for forty-five years till Harold’s passing in December 1993.

During her lifetime, Helen worked as a waitress, housekeeper, babysitter, and was an inspector of elections for the Town of Minerva for over 20 years.  She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Olmstedville: A Charter member of the Minerva Service Organization; The Minerva Sleeping Giants Seniors: The Minerva Red Hat Society: and the Merry Widows Group.  She was a collector of teapots, tea cups, and paperweights.

Besides her parents and husband, Helen was predeceased by her sisters: Magadeline and her husband Cas, and Mary Anne Kenealy; her brothers: Carl and his wife Iva, Fred and his wife Betty, and Richard. Grandson, Eric Loiselle.

Helen is survived by her daughter and son-in-law; Anne and Jarvis Dunkley; granddaughter Nicole Loiselle (Kevin Gardner); grand-daughter-in-law Natalie Royer Loiselle; great grandsons, Chester Prouty (Danielle Schwalbach), Nathan Prouty (Melissa Lashway) and Derrick Loiselle; brother-in-law Thomas Kenealy; sister-in law Sarah Adeline Croniser, and also many much-loved nieces, nephews, and cousins.  Helen is also survived by her extended family: Jamie & Penny Dunkley, Jacqui and Mike Evola, Jenny and Mike Nissen, Jill Conley and their families.  Last but certainly not least she leaves behind her best friend, Irene Koch, who we can’t thank enough for all her faithful phone calls, support and for brightening her days.

Please consider a donation in Helen’s memory to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Church St., Olmstedville, NY 12857: or The Minerva Service Organization, PO Box 922, Minerva, NY 12851.

To celebrate Helen’s memory, a Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted on Thursday, September 28, 2023, 11:00am, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Church Rd., Olmstedville, NY, with Father Phillip T. Allen Officiating.

Please visit www.alexanderfh.net for online condolences, guestbook and directions.