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Helen Wilson (Remy) Cobean
June 06, 2017

Obituary

Laconia-----Helen Wilson (Remy) Cobean 93, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 surrounded by her family, in the bed she slept in since a newlywed. She enjoyed life but left it on her own terms by declining medical treatment for a brief illness.

Helen was born in Brooklyn, NY on May 3, 1924 but grew up in Scarsdale, NY. Her family spent the summers in the Catskills at Big Indian, NY and camped, hunted and fished each summer in Maine. She entered public school at age 4 so was always a year younger than her peers, something that didn’t keep her from excelling in sports. She received a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Skidmore College (Class of 1945) then returned to teach and coach Athletics at Scarsdale High School. She met her future husband, Richard Winfield Cobean (MIT Class of 1940), at a Christmas party neither wanted to attend and were married a year later during New York City’s epic Blizzard of ‘47. The town of Scarsdale plowed the road to the church for the wedding party, but the honeymoon was postponed for 20 years.

Helen raised five children as Dick’s career took them to Milwaukee, Cleveland, Clarendon Hills & Morrison IL, Livingston NJ, Doylestown PA and finally Libertyville IL. With each move, she laid down new roots and built lasting friendships. Along the way, Helen taught her children to throw & catch, ski, do handsprings, and to develop their own interests and potential. When her youngest children reached high school, she returned to work full-time in retail at Lord & Taylor then Marshall Field’s. Despite having been out of the work force for 25 years, she regularly won the top performance and sales award and was assigned to train new employees and retrain old ones. In retirement, Helen and Dick traveled the world.

Dick died in 2003, and Helen moved from Illinois to Laconia NH in 2006. She outlived many people she loved but never lost touch with family and friends stretching back to childhood. She also never lost her sense of humor, her wry wit, and a concern for the well-being of the people around her. She spoke with her children every day; the world was always within reach of Helen and her telephone. She delivered the Laconia Daily Sun every morning for years to the doors of her neighbors at the Taylor Community’s Woodside residence, where she and her family could not have hoped for a closer circle of caring friends. When reminiscing about the past or telling stories of her Woodside friendships, Helen often summed it up best herself by saying, “I’ve had a long and happy life.” And she did.

Helen was predeceased by her husband, Dick; their son, Dick Jr.; her parents, Frank John Remy and Anna Georgene “Gene” (Loeble) Remy; her brother, Frank Remy Jr.; her only cousin, Kenneth (Loeble) Diehm. She is survived by her children, Nancy (Cobean) and Mark Hassel of Portsmouth RI; Sue (Cobean) and Steve Cutillo of Gilford NH; Roy Cobean and Linda Rathbun of Falmouth ME; Craig and Janice (Stevens) Cobean of Rochelle IL; 7 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren.

Her ashes will join those of her husband and son at Ferncliff Cemetery, Hartsdale NY.

There will be calling Hours or funeral.

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services 164, Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial please visit www.wilkinsonbeane.com.

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Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services / 603Cremations.com
164 Pleasant Street
Laconia, NH 03246
603-524-4300