Florence "Sue" (Bartlett) Hellen

PETERSHAM- Florence “Sue” (Bartlett) Hellen passed away at her house on April 6,2025. She enjoyed a long, one-hundred-year, active life.

She was born October 12, 1924, in Salisbury, Massachusetts, the daughter of Edmund Morrill Bartlett and Mabel (Swanson) Bartlett of Amesbury, MA. She moved to Petersham in 1952 where she and her husband Frederick ran a small family farm.

Sue graduated from Amesbury High School, attended Essex Agricultural School and University of New Hampshire.  She taught as a Title I teacher at Petersham Center School for twenty-five years before retiring in 1986. Prior to that, she practiced occupation therapy in Portsmouth, NH.

Over the years she was active in the community in a multitude of ways including as a member of the First Congregational Unitarian Parish.  She served on committees at the Petersham Art Center, including leading an art show, and teaching classes. Her volunteer work for the local Council on Aging was significant to her.

She raised sheep and chickens, and she rode and drove her Morgan and Fjord horses. Her baking was well known in the community; bread and dessert were her specialties. She crafted continuously, knitting, weaving, spinning, rug braiding and needlepointing. She sold her crafts from Jason’s Fleece shop at her house and at craft fairs. Through open houses she welcomed the community to experience the farm life she so loved. She especially enjoyed sharing this land and way of life with her grandchildren. Her connection to the natural world inspired her painting and sketching as well as flower and vegetable gardening. Skiing, skating, and swimming also brought her pleasure.

Throughout her lifetime she enjoyed traveling with her family and later in life she and Fred embarked on several trips throughout the USA and Europe.

She was predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Frederick James Hellen; by her two brothers Willis Bartlett, and sister in-law Francis, and Robert Bartlett and sister Mable Smith, and brother-in-law Willis, two daughters, Mimi (Miriam) Jones (2024) and Susan Lee Fitzgerald (2024).

She leaves daughters (Kathleen) Beth Brault of Newport Center, VT and Nancy Bartlett Hellen, and her husband Steve Crowley of South Burlington, VT, William Fitzgerald (son-in-law), Barbara Bartlett (sister-in law), and James Hellen (brother-in law), his wife Carly Hellen, and Joyce Hellen (sister-in law); eleven grandchildren: Linda (Jones) Teel, Evan Frederick Jones, Joel Frederick Harris, Kerry Fitzgerald Shriver, Wm Isaac Fitzgerald, Albert Frederick Brault, Roxanne Brault, Heather Brault, Matthew Crowley, Daniel Hellen-Sands, and Damien Crowley Hellen; and twelve great grandchildren: Donovan Teel, Annie Crowley, CeCe Florence Harris, Thomas Harris, Chase Fitzgerald Shriver, Pearce Fitzgerald Shriver, Remmi Vezina, Ryker Vezina, Legacy Brault, Garrett Brault, Malcolm Jones, and Niko Jones, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service celebrating her life will be held Saturday, May 17, at 1:00 p.m. at the First Congregational Parish Unitarian, on the Common, Petersham.

Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, is assisting the family.

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