Helene Cluff

A Woman Ahead Of

Her Times

Helene Cluff, 98, previously of Danbury and New York, died July 11, in Saco, Maine, where she had lived for the past two years. She was born in East Orrington, Maine, December 18, 1912, a daughter of Constance and Andrew Nowak. She was happily married for 52 years to Elmer Leroy “Mickey” Cluff, whom she met on a double date; he was the other girl’s date. Her husband died in 1997.

She was the mother of two, including Andrew J. Cluff of Newtown. Three grandchildren; two nephews; and one niece survive Mrs Cluff.

A registered nurse by examination in Maine and New York, Mrs Cluff held a variety of positions in her nursing career, from staff nursing to director of nursing in Lynn, Mass., and New York City. She attended the University of Maine (Orono), and then transferred to Teachers College at Columbia University in New York City where she received a BS in nursing education, an MS in chemistry, and a Doctorate of Education in teaching in schools of higher education. She received a United States Navy fellowship in food chemistry, submarine nutrition. In her teaching career, she was science department head at Long Island College Hospital, in New York, a position she also held at Lynn Hospital in Lynn, Mass. She was an instructor in organic and biochemistry at Teachers College, Columbia University, a position she held until her retirement. After retirement, she worked as a general chemistry instructor at Henry Abbott Technical School in Danbury.

Mrs Cluff enjoyed being involved in her community wherever she lived. She traveled extensively throughout the world, first by herself with her two children, then in later years with her husband, and later with the Elderhostel Program. She held many interests, enjoyed many people and various cultures, and developed lifelong relationships.

Above all, she was a devout Catholic, a kind, patient, and most generous person, having financially helped many of her relatives, children, and grandchildren to further their education, as she placed a high value on education and the opportunities it afforded.

Visitation will be 5 to 8 pm, Friday, July 15, in Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland, Maine. Prayers at 9:15 am., Saturday, July 16, at the funeral home, followed by a 10 am Mass of Christian Burial at St Joseph’s Church, 672 Stevens Avenue, Portland. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery, South Portland.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be to the Alzheimer’s Foundation, Maine Chapter, 383 US Route One, Suite 2C, Scarborough Maine 04074.

The Newtown Bee        July 15, 2011