BELFAST and PERU, N.Y. – Helen Lucile (English) Sprague, formally of Peru, N.Y., passed peacefully and gracefully at the age of 76 in her beloved state of Maine with her daughter by her side on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013, following a 13 year battle with Dementia.
Helen was born in Monroe in 1937. Her parents were Sherman and Ruth English of Belfast. Sherman was mayor of Belfast for a term in the 1950s and Helen was proud of her father for this accomplishment. Helen graduated from Crosby High School, Belfast, in 1955 and went on to earn a degree in Childhood education from Becker College. Helen was a determined entrepreneur who, in 1976 founded, owned and grew Tip Top Frame in Plattsburgh, N.Y., of which she then transitioned ownership to her son, Sherman Sprague. Tip Top Frame is still in active operation today, 37 years later.
Helen was always keenly in tune with her community. She was an active vocalist in the Sweet Adelines and a past president of the Clinton County Fair board. Helen loved the county fair and what it represented to the community. Helen also enjoyed playing golf in her later years. Helen routinely took trips from New York to visit her beloved family in Maine. Helen never lost her spunk and especially her joy of music. It wouldn’t be uncommon for Helen to do a little dance whenever she heard music, even up to a few weeks before her passing.
Helen was predeceased by her husband of 53 years, Hayden A. Sprague. She is survived by her sons, Sherman H. Sprague and life partner, Judith Beckley, of North Carolina, and Douglas C. Sprague and wife, Debbie Sprague, of Florida; daughter, Roselee M. Bodmer and husband, Daniel Bodmer, of Maine; and six grandchildren.
The service of remembrance will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21, at Grove Cemetery, 21 Belmont Ave., Belfast.
Those who wish to remember Helen in a special way may make gifts in her memory to Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C., 20090-6011 or www.alz.org.
Helen Lucile (English) Sprague
