Helen L. Willson, 96, of Vernon Center

VERNON CENTER » Helen L. Willson, 96, formerly of Vernon Center and the Hazel Carpenter Home, Oneida, died Saturday evening, Oct. 21, 2017, in the Oneida Healthcare Center, where she had been a medical patient for the past two days.

Born in Vernon on Feb. 10, 1921, she was a daughter of William and Susie Fehr Houck. A lifelong resident of the area, Helen was a graduate of Vernon High School, Class of 1939. She married Beriah E. “Ted” Willson Sr. in Vernon Center on Feb. 23, 1946. Mr. Willson died on March 3, 2013.

Prior to her retirement, Mrs. Willson was the co-owner and operator of Ber-Len Farms, with her late husband, which they purchased in 1948. She a communicant of the Church of the Holy Family and a member of their Altar-Rosary Society and taught religious education at the church and with 4-H.

Surviving are three daughters and two sonsin-law, Barbara Melioris and friend Ross Kallenberger of Bakersfield, Calif., Ellen and James Hannafon of Oklahoma City, Okla. and Sony and Dave Bermudez of Riverhead, Long Island; four sons and three daughters-in-law, Paul Will- son, James and Amanda Willson and Douglas and Anne Willson all of Vernon Center and Michael and BrendaWillson of Las Vegas, Nev.; 17 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one sister, Susanna Power of Kettering, Ohio; a special friend, Jean Blair of Waterville; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a daughter, Kathryn Willson in 1958, a sister, Marion Houck, a brother and his wife, John and Millicent Houck and a brotherin-law, Charles Power.

Funeral services will be held 9:45 a.m., Saturday from the CampbellDean Funeral Home, Inc., 260 Main St., Oneida and 10:30 a.m. from the Church of the Holy Family, Vernon, where the Funeral Mass will be celebrated by the Rev. William Mesmer, pastor. Interment will be made in St. Helena’s Cemetery. Friendsmay call at the funeral home 3-7 p.m., Friday. Contributions may be made to the Church of the Holy Family, 4343 Peterboro St., Vernon, N.Y. 13476 or to the Hazel Carpenter Home, 533 Main St., Oneida, N.Y. 13421. To leave a message of condolence, please visit www. campbell-dean.com.

CAMPBELL- DEAN FUNERAL HOME, INC.

Oneida