Helen Bennett

Ledyard — Helen Mary Bennett, 94, of Ledyard, wife of Frank K. Bennett, died Oct. 1, 2017, after a brief illness and battle with Alzheimer’s.

Born Helen Mary Sunderhauf on Jan. 20, 1923, in Philadelphia, Pa., she was the daughter of Helen and Walter Sunderhauf. She was married on Nov. 29, 1947, in South Philadelphia, Pa., to Frank K. Bennett, son of Harry and Frances Bennett of Philadelphia, Pa. She is survived by her husband and they would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Nov. 29.

She was the devoted mother of Frank Bennett (Cathy) of Melbourne Beach, Fla., Thomas Bennett (Jean) of Millersville, Md., and David Bennett (Anne) of Dunedin, Fla. She is survived by five grandchildren, Mathew Bennett of St. Petersburg, Fla., Casandra Bennett (Chris Silvia) of Portsmouth, R.I., Daniel Bennett of Dunedin, Fla., Elizabeth Bennett Colegrove (Lt. Brennin Colegrove, U.S. Navy) of Anacortes, Wash., and Thomas “Will” Bennett Jr. of Rockville, Md.; and one great-grandchild, Axel Bennett of Portsmouth, R.I.

Helen was a resident of Ledyard since 1959. Born and raised in South Philadelphia, Pa., she moved to Ledyard as a submariner’s wife. She was a homemaker and devoted wife of a career Navy man and government engineering contractor. She was also an avid shopper and home decorator. Helen always insisted that if she had had a career she would have been a personal shopper. Over the years, she was active at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church of Gales Ferry and many military and community groups.

The funeral service will assemble at 8:45 a.m. Saturday, at the Byles-Groton Memorial Home, 310 Thames St., Groton, and go in procession to a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church, 1650 Route 12, Gales Ferry. Interment will follow in the Avery Stoddard Cemetery in Gales Ferry.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in memory of Helen.

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