Helen S. Obligado

Born in East Norwalk, CT, she was the daughter of the late Vivian A. and Harold A. McHugh, Sr. Helen’s biological father, Joseph Soos, passed away when Helen was three years old from spinal meningitis. She grew up in Norwalk and, after graduating from Norwalk High School, married the late Roger A. Sibelius and moved to Danbury, CT, where she raised her two sons while making numerous close friends and engaging in local school and community activities. She worked at Danbury Hospital for several years and then at Nuclear Energy Services, an engineering company in Danbury, for about twenty years, where she met and later married Alvaro Obligado in 1986. Helen and Al moved to New Fairfield the same year to a house overlooking Ball Pond. Here Helen engaged her gardening passion to make an already beautiful garden outstanding, while Al remodeled the house to make it their own special place. Helen and Al traveled widely in the US and Europe, enjoying camping in their RV and ship cruising. She especially looked forward to yearly RV camping trips south to visit family and friends. She was an active member of The Friends of Ball Pond and the New Fairfield Senior Center where she made many new and wonderful friends. Helen loved swimming and kayaking in Ball Pond with her friends and enjoyed making pies renown in the Ball Pond community. Helen was a delight to be with, positive and giving and always with a smile on her face.

Helen was predeceased by her sister Joan Rywalt and her husband Donald of Southport, CT. She is survived by her husband Alvaro Obligado of New Fairfield, CT, brother, Harold A, McHugh, Jr. of Norwalk, CT, and sons Brian Sibelius and his wife Lisa of Virginia Beach and Glen Sibelius of Bristol, CT, her granddaughter, Kristine and her husband David Novelly and great-granddaughters Aria and Vivian Novelly of Dacula, GA, and grandson Justin Sibelius. She is also survived by her aunts Elizabeth Millburn and Dolly Kling, several cousins including Betsy Gilberti, Donna Yurek, Kevin Kling, Keith Kling, Patricia Soos, Shirley Geitz, David Hollywood and Cynthia McHugh, nephews Scott, Jarrod and Peter Rywolt and Tim Geitz, and grandnephews and grandnieces Craig, Lindsey, Paige and Ella Rywolt, and Wyland Geitz.

She will be remembered fondly by all those who knew and loved her and especially by her longtime friends Janice Harrison and Pat Roberts and her family, and the extended Obligado family in New York, New Jersey, Switzerland, and Argentina.

The family would like to thank the staff of Danbury Hospital’s Oncology department for their empathy, compassion, and support during her trial. As she wished, she will be cremated, and her ashes will be privately spread over her garden by her close family. A memorial gathering will be announced later. In lieu of flowers, contributions to a cancer research organization in Helen’s name would be appreciated.