BRUNSWICK – Helen Henderson, 95, resident of Sunnybrook Village Assisted Living, died Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011, at Horizons Rehabilitation and Living Center, Brunswick. She was born Dec. 10, 1916, in Flushing, N.Y., a daughter of William and Helen (Dziemanowitz) Dane.
She was very proud of her Polish heritage, and often told the story of her parent’s emigration from Poland to England, where they lived for five years. Eventually, they sailed to America and landed at Ellis Island, N.Y., with hundreds of other emigres from many other countries. Helen went to school and worked in New York, and on Sept. 3, 1939, she married Francis B. Henderson. In 1947 they moved with their son, James to Maine. In 1956 Francis was appointed the sheriff of Somerset County by then Gov. Edmund Muskie. Helen worked as a jail matron and as a court officer during the years of Francis’ term as sheriff. She enjoyed telling many amusing stories from her time in that position.
She was predeceased by her husband, Francis, who died in 2000; her four brothers and two sisters. Helen is survived by her son, James S. Henderson and his wife, Rebecca Williams, of Harpswell; a daughter, Victoria H. and her husband, David Ballard, of Hampden; five grandchildren, Brady Williams of Harpswell, Aaron Henderson and his wife, Colleen Duggan, of Camden, Julia and her husband, Michael Gibson, of Seattle, Shawn McBreairty and his wife, Patricia, of Cumberland and Leah McBreairty of Missoula, Mont. Helen also had five great-grandchildren, Ian and Julian Henderson of Camden, Zane Gibson of Seattle and Riley and Meaghan McBreairty of Cumberland. Helen’s family thank the staffs of Sunnybrook Village and Horizons Rehabilitation and Living Center for the kind, gentle and dignified care they provided to Helen.
Services will be private. Interment will be held in the spring in Skowhegan. In lieu of sending flowers, donations may be made to Florence House, 190 Valley St., Portland, ME 04102 or to the charity of one’s choice in Helen Henderson’s memory. Arrangements are under the direction and care of Brackett Funeral Home, Brunswick.