Helen Ferris Chalfant, longtime resident of Portland, Connecticut and native of Milton, Indiana, died on January 27, 2016. Helen is survived by daughter, Barbara Applegarth (Patrick), daughter, Margarete Chalfant, son, John Chalfant (Donna) and granddaughter, Morgan Chalfant. She is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law, John (Jake) and Maxine Ferris, and sister-in-law, Mary Ferris, as well as by five nephews and one niece and their families.
Helen was born in 1923 and spent an idyllic childhood on the farm of her loving parents, Albert and Elma Ferris, with her two brothers, Jake and Merrill. Helen was a birthright Quaker and matriculated at Earlham College, a Quaker college in Richmond, Indiana in 1941. Helen always tried to “live her faith.”
Helen’s college years spanned WW II. She met her future husband, Arthur Chalfant, at University of Wisconsin in 1946, and they were married a year later. Helen and Art moved to the Hartford, Connecticut area after their wedding. They spent many happy years in Portland, Connecticut raising their three children – Barb, Margie and John. Helen and Art were long time members of the First Congregational Church in Portland, Connecticut. Helen was active in many church functions and sang with the church choir. She had a wonderful voice and a great appreciation for classical and popular music. She is remembered by all who knew and loved her as stoic, kind, worldly and surprisingly funny.
Services to be announced at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to St Elizabeth’s Foundation, Edgewood, Kentucky for the Hospice.
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