It is with sadness that the family of Helen K. Katz announces her passing. Helen, 90, died of natural causes in her home in West Chatham, MA on December 22, 2016. She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Maurice Katz, of West Chatham; son, Geoffrey Katz, of Michoacan, Mexico and New Boston, NH; daughter, Dianne Oliver, of Simi Valley, CA; grandchildren: Holen Katz Hirsh, Juliane Katz Leckey, Alice Sohl Katz, London Oliver, Trenton Oliver, Emerson Oliver, and Axel Oliver; great-granddaughter, Amalia Hirsh; daughter-in-law, Cyndie Katz, and son-in-law, Don Oliver; sister, Jane Carmer, and brother-in-law, Dick Carmer, of Syracuse, NY; nephews: Rick Carmer, Dewitt Carmer, and James Carmer; and niece, Lisanne Carmer.
Helen was born in Battle Creek, MI, and graduated from Hillsdale College in MI. She was an elementary school teacher before marrying Maurice, her childhood sweetheart since the age of five, in 1949. They raised their two children in Avon Lake, OH and summered in their West Chatham home from 1971 until moving there permanently in the 1980s.
Many of Helen’s favorite activities revolved around volunteering her time and talents. She remained an active member of her college sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, throughout her life. She loved plants, had a flair for flower arranging, and volunteered for many years with the Avon-on-the-Lake Garden Club in Ohio. She thoroughly enjoyed her 30 years of volunteer work at Cape Cod Hospital, most recently with the Patient Transport team. A perfect day for Helen was a morning of gardening and an afternoon at the beach.
In recent years, Helen and her sister, Jane, organized an annual summer spa weekend for their daughters and daughters-in-law at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, MA. Helen looked forward to and savored every aspect of this time with her female clan. Those who had the privilege of attending this weekend will forever treasure the memories of love, health, and happiness that were shared together.
Helen displayed remarkable determination and optimism in the face of her physical challenges over the past few years. Throughout her whole life, she was an example to all who knew her of inner strength, grace, spirit, and engagement in life.
Plans will be made for a celebration of Helen’s life to take place in late spring on Cape Cod.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in memory of Helen Katz sent to: Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation, P. O. Box 370, Hyannis, MA 02601, noting on the check “restricted to Cape Cod Hospital, Volunteer Services” where Helen volunteered her time. Online donations can be made at www.GivetoCapeCodHealth.org, selecting “Cape Cod Hospital” from the pull-down menu and referencing Helen Katz in the Tribute field.
For online condolences, please visit: www.nickersonfunerals.com
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