Obituary of Helen Frances DeGemmis

Helen Frances DeGemmis (Senyk) died on January 2, 2021 at Hartford Hospital on her 87th birthday. Family members were blessed to be at her bedside on the day prior - to express their love and gratitude. Helen is survived by her loving husband of 68 years, Alfred N. DeGemmis Jr. (“Al) of Glastonbury. She is survived by their four children, Alfred ll (Pamela) of Littleton MA, Mary Lee Shusta (John) of Petersham MA, Roberta of New York City and Thomas (Elise) of Scituate, MA and also by nine adoring grandchildren: Adrienne, Alfred, Julia, Liza, Robert, Maria, Courtney, Meghan, Brett and two great granddaughters, Lula and Amara. Helen was a true “Glastonbury Girl” – born in town in 1934, she was a resident for all 87 years. She attended Glastonbury schools in her youth and then graduated from Mt. Saint Joseph High School in 1951. She and the love of her life, Al, wed in 1952. In 1957 the couple built a new home in Glastonbury where Helen was both a meticulous homemaker and a constant guardian of her family’s care. The homestead welcomed family, neighbors and friends. The family will forever cherish the many celebrations at “Grammy and Grandpa’s house”. After her children matured and moved away, Helen (with Al) took the opportunity to “spread her wings”. While Al had great success in business, he always called Helen “the wind beneath my wings”. They formed a great team. Fruits of their labor were opportunities to travel the world with their close friends and to build a second home in Florida. Helen enjoyed all their getaways to Southwest Florida and greatly enjoyed decorating the home there. She especially enjoyed countless beach walks while adding to her extensive collections of sea shells and exotic stones. Her Glastonbury roots remained strong throughout Helen’s life. She continued to work at home on rock gardens and the landscape. She enjoyed beloved neighbors always at hand. She worked at nearby Glastonbury High School, assembling test kits for students. And, when out of town, Helen attended all manner of events for her grandkids. She always bestowed food and kindness on her four-legged friends - pony Slugger and grandkids’ pet dogs MacKenzie, Izzy and Kipper. Helen was blessed to remain in the home she loved, with Al, until late 2020. Apart from her husband and immediate family, Helen is survived by one of her sisters and one brother (Dorothy Glista of Ludlow MA and Paul Lee Senyk of West Palm Beach FL), also by two sisters in law and by a dear circle of extended family and friends. She was predeceased by her mother and father (Mary and Paul Senyk of Glastonbury) and by sisters Jo Gudaitis, Anne Senyk and brother Peter Senyk, all of Glastonbury. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a future date, to be handled by the Mulryan Funeral Home in Glastonbury.