Helen L. H. Hodgdon, 97, of Winchester, passed away on Jan. 17, 2010 after a brief illness. She was the beloved wife of the late Henry Turner Hodgdon and devoted mother of the late Henry Turner Hodgdon, Jr. Born in Manchester-by-the-Sea and raised in Chestnut Hill, she was a graduate of The Garland School, where she majored in Food Management. For many years, she worked at the Women’s Educational and Industrial Union as Manager of their Dining Room, Catering service, and their Food and Gift Shop.
In the early 1960’s, when Brad Washburn, the Director of the Museum of Science, looked to open a restaurant there, Mrs. Hodgdon was asked to design the kitchen and dining areas and function as Director of Dining Services and Special Events. When the Women’s Educational and Industrial Union moved to a different location on Boylston St., she was asked to set up and manage a Café there. She accepted the project and remained there until her retirement.
In her spare time, Helen was a member of the Altrusa Club of Boston, a business club for women, where she was a representative for the food industry. In Winchester, she was also a member of the Home and Garden Club and served on the board of Meals on Wheels. James Jenks, for whom the Jenks Senior Center in Winchester is named, conferred with Helen to help plan and design the kitchen there. For several years in her early retirement Helen volunteered at the Center and along with several other volunteers, prepared the popular Monthly Luncheon. In the fall, before the first frost, people who had small vegetable gardens would bring their green tomatoes to the Jenks Center and Helen would prepare several batches of Green Tomato Relish. Many of the seniors would remark how the delicious smell reminded them of their own mothers’ homemade preserves.
A private Mass of Christian Burial was held on Wed., Jan 20 in St. Mary’s Church, Winchester. Interment was in Wildwood Cemetery, Winchester. In lieu of flowers, donations in Helen’s memory may be made to the Animal Rescue League of Boston, 10 Chandler St., Boston, MA 02116.