Helen Chepley (nee Ference), 98, passed away on April 6, 2018 in Ridgeland, MS. She had previously resided in Fishkill, Cold Spring and Yonkers, NY.
Daughter of the late Stephan and Julia (Andrechak) Ference, she was born in Yonkers on April 29, 1919 and graduated from Commerce High School in 1937. On April 26, 1941 she married Daniel Chepley who pre-deceased her after 58 years of marriage. In 1981, she retired from the Parkway Casket Company, where she worked as a seamstress for many years. Helen was a longtime parishioner of St. Mary's Church (Immaculate Conception) in Yonkers and St. Mary, Mother of the Church in Fishkill.
During her lifetime Helen devoted more than 20 years as an active volunteer at Castle Point Veteran's Medical Center and received many awards including the coveted "Giraffe Award" for her lifelong devotion to this cause. Helen was a long-time member of the Praying Hands Group, actively involved in crocheting and knitting articles for adults and children alike. During her 58 years of marriage she enjoyed bowling, fishing, baking and trips to Las Vegas.
She is survived by her daughter, Patricia Auger and her husband George of Hilton Head, SC, her daughter, Barbara Montalto of Brandon, MS; her grandchildren, Daniel Chepley of Ventura, CA, John Montalto and Stephen Montalto of Brandon, MS, her granddaughter, Nicole Montalto of Northport, AL, her great-grandchildren, Sidney and Brandt Chepley of Ventura, CA, her daughter-in-law, Marilyn Chepley of Tarrytown, NY and many other loving relatives & friends.
Her son, Daniel Chepley of Oxnard, CA and her son-in-law, John Montalto of Brandon, MS pre-deceased her in 2010.
Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Friday, April 13th at the McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill 1089 Main Street, Fishkill. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:30 a.m. on Friday at St. Mary, Mother of the Church, 106 Jackson Street, Fishkill. Interment will take place at 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 14th at Oakland Cemetery in Yonkers.
For directions and online tributes, you can visit Helen’s Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.