Helen Hayden

East Lyme — Helen Lucille Fain Hayden, 100, of Niantic, died at 12:15 a.m. on Thursday, April 20, 2017, from congestive heart failure and other ailments at Bride Brook Rehabilitation Center in Niantic.

Helen worked many decades for various banks, retiring from The Bank of America on State Street in New London. During the 1950s, she worked at various businesses including Beit Brothers Grocery, Mallove Jewelry and Bradlees.

Born in Webb City, Mo. in 1916, she graduated from Norwich Free Academy in 1934, entered Dental School and worked at The William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich where she met her future husband, Irving Clifford Hayden, who died April 30, 1975. Since the 1940s, they lived and raised a family in Norwich, Gales Ferry, Groton, New London, and Niantic.

Helen was a longtime member of The First Baptist Church in New London, working many years on various committees including the diaconate and financial. She enjoyed working the church’s yearly Holiday Bazaar jewelry table and providing Sailfest information. When the City Church of New London closed in 2016 she joined others at the Flanders Baptist Church. She was recognized by Lawrence + Memorial Hospital for 25 years of volunteer services. She enjoyed the concerts by the Coast Guard Academy Band and other community and school bands.

She leaves behind her daughter, Louise M. Wallace of Waterford; and son, Lawrence Hayden and his wife, Jo Anne, of Anchorage, Alaska. She also leaves behind her best friend, Jean Rowley of Waterford.

Her sister, Opal Allen of Hanover died in 2002; and her brother, Raymond Fain of Fort Myers, Fla., died in 2000.

She liked to read mystery books, was interested in nature, music, antiques and global travel; she enjoyed knitting, crocheting, needlepoint and watercolor painting. She was a successful cultivator of African violets and always had some blooming. She got her 50-year pin from Eastern Star in February 2003. She enjoyed using email to communicate with her three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and two step-grandchildren. She was always ready to go to theatrical plays, especially at the Goodspeed Opera House. She always took pleasure in keeping her house beautiful and neat and enjoyed displaying her Christmas collection.

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Byles Memorial Home, 99 Huntington St., New London. Burial will be at Starr Burying Ground in Groton. There are no calling hours.

Please visit www.Byles.com to sign the guest book or to share a memory.