Helen Jean (Moss) Potsus, 77, a 33-year resident of Newtown, died October 13. She was born in Reedy, W.Va., July 17, 1939, and was a daughter of the late Opal (Fore) Moss and Glenn Moss. She was the third youngest of seven children. give.salvationarmyusa.org; or the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) at vva.org.

She was the wife of Robert Potsus of Newtown, and mother of Whitney Potsus of Shelton. She also is survived by her brother Glenn Moss of Parkersburg, W.Va.; her sisters Mary (Moss) Evans of Parkersburg, June (Moss) Holub of Gahanna, Ohio, and Geneva (Moss) Flesher of Reedy; and several nieces and nephews in West Virginia, Ohio, and Maryland. She was predeceased by her sisters Darlene (Moss) Scott of Spencer, W.Va., and Naomi (Moss) Caufman of Cincinnati, Ohio; and several nieces and nephews.

Mrs Potsus served as a US Air Force medic from 1962 to 1966, in the 642nd USAF Dispensary of the Air Defense Command (ADC) in Syracuse, N.Y.; she was an airman first class (a rank now called sergeant) when she discharged in 1966.

She and her husband met while both were stationed in Syracuse. The couple just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in August 2016.

After the Air Force, she worked as a dental assistant before spending more than a decade as a devoted stay-at-home mother. Later, she worked for more than 20 years in elder care, first as a nurse's aide at River Glen Health Care Home in Southbury, and then as a home health aide with the Southbury Visiting Nurse Association.

Mrs Potsus was a voracious reader, casual gardener, lifelong animal lover, and prolific sewer who had made everything from doll clothes to school clothes to patchwork quilts. True to her Appalachian roots, she was also a gifted oral storyteller with a long memory. A natural born and uncommonly gifted caregiver, she was infinitely patient and had a deeply intuitive capacity for comfort and compassion, always knowing what someone needed before they knew it themselves. She was always fully present for those who needed her, and they left her feeling heard and understood and knowing they'd be remembered.

In keeping with her wishes, the family will not have a memorial service. Her ashes will be laid to rest in Reedy.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Salvation Army at