Helen Mejza-Tew
Mystic — Helen Theresa Mejza-Tew, U.S. Navy Nurse Corps (Ret.) of Mystic, and the last of her familial generation, died peacefully Friday, April 9, 2021, at her residence. She was born Aug. 3, 1928, in Boston, Mass., to William F. and Helen M. Sullivan of Malden, Mass.
Helen graduated from Malden Catholic High School (1947) and earned a registered nurse (RN) degree from Carney Hospital in Boston, Mass. (1950). She joined the U.S. Navy as a noncommissioned officer (1951) and served during the Korean War before being honorably discharged in 1952. Her RN career spanned 47 years and included positions at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London; a high school nurse on the island of Guam and an oncology nurse at Uncas-on-Thames Hospital in Uncasville. Notably, in Guam, she volunteered to nurse Vietnamese refugee families and orphans during Operations Babylift and New Life (1975), the largest aerial evacuation in American history. In 1952, while serving in the U.S. Navy, she fell in love and married Conrad Charles Mejza, U.S. Navy master chief in Malden, Mass., and began raising a family while he was stationed in Bermuda. After Conrad passed in 1992, Helen found love again and married Louis M. Tew, U.S. Navy LCDR (Ret.), in 2000. Together they enjoyed life with their respective children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends until his passing in 2020.
Helen is survived by six loving children: Michael (Hui), Carleen, Stephen, Conrad, Patrick (Heather) and Daniel; 10 grandchildren: Alicia, Jessica, Johnathan, Ashley, Ryan, Shelby, Caolinn, Aife, Audrey and Shannon; and four great-grandchildren: Jadyn, Carson, Layla and Aislyn. Her eldest daughter, Kathleen Mejza Alvarez (Ron) predeceased her in 2013.
Helen was a force of nature: ever smiling and optimistic, innately wise and lovingly loyal, she radiated compassion for others in need, always looking to lend her skills and help nurse one’s soul.
She loved socializing, bingo, golfing, attending veterans’ events and was most lucky at the casino.
She will be cremated and laid to rest with her first husband at Avery Stoddard Cemetery on Stoddards
Wharf Road in Gales Ferry. Funeral service arrangements are being planned for a date yet to be determined. There will be no calling hours and her immediate family will gather to celebrate her life and spirit.
Helen and her family thank the staffs at Benchmark Assisted Living at Mystic Academy Point and VITAS Healthcare Hospice Services of Connecticut for their generosity of spirit, patient caregiving and constant love and support during her last few years.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Helen’s memory to either Connecticut Hospice of Branford, (www.hospice.com/donate) or DAV/Disabled American Veterans (www.DAV.org/ donate).