November 28, 2008  

WATERTOWN, N.Y.  —  Helen A. Blake, 88, of 308 Butterfield Ave., died Thursday, Nov. 27, at her home after a brief illness, while under the care of her family and Hospice of Jefferson County.    

Born May 22, 1920, in Watertown, the daughter of Timothy I. and Luella Seery Newtown, she graduated in 1938 from Watertown High School and the Watertown School of Commerce.  

She married C. Kenneth Blake on Feb. 16, 1941, at the Holy Family Church Rectory, with Rev. Russell C. O’Neill officiating. He died Aug. 10, 2008.

During World War II, she was a Secretary for the Army’s School for Special Forces at Fort Meade, Md.  When home during the war years, she worked at Morrison’s furniture store, Sears and Roebuck in their telemarketing department, and as a surveyor for a national opinion poll. 

Mrs. Blake was a communicate of St. Patrick’s Church and a volunteered there.  

She volunteered at the North Country Children’s Clinic, the Watertown Sportsmen’s Club, and the City of Watertown Historian’s Office.  Mrs. Blake was a member of the ladies auxiliaries of the Postal Clerks Union and the Ancient Order of Hibernians.  

Mrs. Blake was a 43 year survivor of breast cancer and asked that donations be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society.

Surviving are two daughters and their husbands, Mary and William Hunt, Springville, and Sarah and Lawrence Conley, Watertown; five granddaughters, Mrs. Sean (Erin) Govern and Kathleen Hunt both of Buffalo, Kelly Hunt, SUNY Brockport, Kerry Conley, Watertown and Mrs. Anthony (Cheryl) Scharp, with a great grandson Austin, Peoria, IL.; a brother Melvin A. Newtown, Arizona. 

Two sons, Patrick and Charles, a daughter, Sharon Blake, and a sister, Ruth Morrison, all died before her.  

A funeral Mass will be held 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 1, at St. Patrick’s Church with Rev. Arthur Labaff, pastor officiating. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery. Calling hours will be 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Cleveland Funeral Home, Watertown. 

Information provided by Cleveland Funeral Home and Newzjunky.com, Watertown