Helen Olmstead

Helen Marie Olmstead, age 93, of Onchiota, NY died Wednesday, June 29, 2011 at the Meadowbrook Nursing Home in Plattsburgh.

Born in Allentown, Pennsylvania on October 12, 1917, she was the daughter of Rudolph and Catherine (Cervenka) Blechar. She married Donald Olmstead on June 17, 1939 in Manhattan, NY. He predeceased her on December 27, 2003.

Mrs. Olmstead attended schools in Manhattan, the last one was the Julia Richman High School. She retired from the New York City Department of the Aging, Foster Grandparent Program in 1988. She was a member of the Civil Service Retired Employees Association and the D.C. 37 Retirees Association. The Olmstead's moved to Onchiota from the Bronx in 1988.

She is survived by two sons: Gary Olmstead of Yonkers, NY, and Thomas Olmstead and wife Sharon of Peru, NY, two daughters: Gwynne Ann Griffiths and her husband Gerald of North Salem, NY, and Kathryn Olmstead of North Bangor, NY, and five grandchildren and one great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her son John Olmstead and one brother Stephen Blechar.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 AM on Friday July 8, at St. Paul's Church in Bloomingdale, NY with Rev. Paul Kelly officiating. Burial will follow at Merrilsville Cemetery in Loon Lake.

Friends wishing to remember Helen Marie Olmstead may make memorial contributions to Down's Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can share their memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.