Helen B. Smethy of Newtown, PA, a former long time resident of Cranford, NJ, passed away peacefully Friday, May 12, 2017 at St. Mary Medical Center. She was 85.

Born in Newark, NJ, Helen is preceded in death by her late husband Eugene Albert Smethy and was the only child to the late Stephen and Margaret Heid Bartkow.

A graduate of Montclair State University, Helen worked for the Newark Public Schools teaching multiple grade levels. Helen was pursuing a graduate degree at Seton Hall University when she was married in 1954. She concluded her career of teaching with the birth of her first daughter, and dedicated her time as a stay-at-home mother to raise her four children. She spent time with her children focusing on school work, trips to the local Public Library, walks to town, swimming in the pool and playing board games, word games, cards and badminton.  Helen was an active past President of her children's school PTA.  She was an avid reader of books by authors such as John Grisham, James Patterson, James Michener and Jonathan Kellerman; and she was a New York Times crossword puzzle enthusiast. Helen had a love of classical music and was a practiced pianist who loved playing pieces by composers, Chopin. Gershwin and Beethoven and listened to favorites from Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky . She loved collecting dolls and figurines. During her retirement, Helen also served on the Board in numerous positions and eventually as President of the “To Live Again” and the "Golden Girls" Senior Citizens groups.  Helen will be greatly missed, and always loved by everyone who has had the pleasure to have made her acquaintance.

A devoted mother, Helen is survived by her four loving children: Lorrie H. Nagata and her partner Rick Schutte, Linda C. Rydz and her husband John, Steven E. Smethy and his wife Lisa Geddes, and Martin R. Smethy and his partner Dawn Lantz.  She is also survived by her four grandchildren: Christine Singelyn Braun and her husband Michael; Holly Singelyn; Brian Rydz and his partner, Leo Regan; and Kevin Rydz and his partner Colleen Bird; her great-grandson, Jack Braun; and her loving long-time friends Dina, Judy, Elaine, Mary and Pat.

Helen’s family will receive friends on Friday, May 19, 2017 from 6:00PM until her memorial service 7:00 PM in the Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, 800 Newtown-Richboro Rd.(at Holland Rd.), Richboro, PA 18954. Interment will be private.