May 13, 2008      

WATERTOWN, N.Y.  —  Helen C. Crane, 95, of 113 W. Main St., Hilltop Towers, died Saturday evening at her home. 

Mrs. Crane, a native of Rochester, was a secretary for the S. E. Hoffman Company in Penfield for many years. She had previously worked at various department stores in the Rochester area. 

She was born Dec. 22, 1912, in Rochester, daughter of James and Sally Carroll.  

She married Lester Crane June 28, 1941. Mr. and Mrs. Crane lived in Fairport until Mr. Crane’s death on Sept. 5, 1974.  Following his death, Mrs. Crane moved to Ocala, Fla., where she lived for 22 years. She returned to New York living in Palmyra and Manchester before moving to Watertown at age 93. 

Mrs. Crane was a life member of the Fairport Volunteer Fire Department’s Women’s Auxiliary and a member of the departments Women’s Auxiliary Marching Unit, and a past president of the New York State Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary. She was a foster grandparent in Penfield for many years until moving to Watertown.  She was a member of the Hilltop Towers Tenants Association. 

Surviving are two daughters and their husbands, Carol and Peter Russell, Davenport, Iowa, Kathleen and Robert Ward, Watertown; three sons and their wives, Roger and Estella, New Braunfels, Texas, James and Sheila, Rochester, and Warren and Sandra, Palmyra; 11 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews.  

A sister, Estelle Van Epps, died before her. 

Private services will be held at Oakwood Cemetery, Baird Rd., Penfield. There are no calling hours. Arrangements are with the Reed & Benoit Funeral Home.  

Contributions may be made to the Fairport VFD Auxiliary, Church St., Fairport, NY 14450, St. Anne’s Family Resource Center, 201 Canandaigua, NY  14522, or to the Creative Environment Daycare, Inc., 28 main St., Macedon, NY  14502. 
 




Information provided by Reed and Benoit Funeral Home and Newzjunky, Watertown, N.Y.