Helene Cluff

Helene Cluff died at 98 on July 11, 2011 at the Monarch Center, in Saco, ME where she had lived for the past two years. Helene was born to the parents of Constance and Andrew Nowak on the family farm in East Orrington, Maine on December 18, 1912. Both of her parents had immigrated to America from Poland as young adults, Helen is one of 11 children. Polish language, traditions, and culture were always a large part of Helene and her family's lives. Helen was an excellent cook, and was happy to prepare elaborate and delicious meals for family and friends. She attended elementary school -a one room schoolhouse-in East Orrington, ME. In 1930, Helen graduated with high honors from Bangor High School where she played first violin in the school orchestra. In 1933, Helen graduated from the Sisters Hospital School of Nursing in Waterville, Maine, but was too young to become registered, so she had to wait a year before becoming officially registered. A registered nurse by examination in Maine and New York, Helene held a variety of positions in her nursing career from staff nursing to Director of Nursing in both Lynn, Mass. and New York City. She attended the University of Maine (Orono), and then transferred to Teachers College at Columbia University in New York City where she received a B.S. in Nursing Education, an M.S. in Chemistry, and a Doctorate of Education in teaching in schools of higher education. She received a United States Navy fellowship in Food Chemistry, Submarine Nutrition. In her teaching career, she was Science Department Head at Long Island College Hospital, in New York, a position she also held at Lynn Hospital in Lynn, Mass. She was an instructor in Organic and Biochemistry at Teachers College, Columbia University, a position she held until her retirement. After retirement, she worked as a General Chemistry Instructor at Henry Abbott Technical School in Danbury, CT. In the late 1950's and early 1960's, Helene lived in Abadan, Iran with her family for a period of five years. While there, she immersed herself in Persian culture, which included Persian cooking and Persian Art, and gained a strong affinity for the Persian people, as well as learning how to read, write, and speak Farsi. Helene was a devout Catholic and was closely involved with St. Joseph's Parish in Danbury, CT for many years. She also served as a Eucharist Minister at St. Dominic's Church and at 75 State Street in Portland, Me for many years. Helene enjoyed being involved in her community wherever she lived. She worked at the Trachoma Eye Clinic in Abadan, Iran, at the Anderson Memorial Hospital in South Carolina with the LifeLine Program interviewing and recruiting residents for the program, the Red Cross Blood Mobile in Danbury, CT, as a docent for Victoria Mansion, in Portland, ME for many years, and as an archivist for the Portland String Quartet. Helene was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Beta Chapter in Maine, Former member of PiLambda Theta and Delta Kappa Pi. A charter member of the Wildflower Garden Club in Anderson, S.C. and a former member of the Board of Trustees at 75 State Street in Portland, ME. Helen traveled extensively throughout the world, first by herself with her two children, then in later years with her husband, and later with the Elderhostel Program. Above all, Helene was a devout Catholic, a kind, patient and most generous person having financially helped many of her relatives, children, and grandchildren to further their education, as she placed a high value on education and the opportunities it afforded. She was happily married for 52 years to Elmer Leroy Cluff "Mickey" whom she met on a double date; he was the other girl's date. Her husband died in 1997. She is survived by her daughter, Constance C. Daigle of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, and her son, Andrew J. Cluff of Newtown, CT. She is also survived by her three grandchildren, Andrew Daigle, Monica Cluff, and Matthew Cluff; two nephews, Stanley and Michael King, and one niece Catherine King Francouer., and "Aunt Helen" to Cyrus, Sue, and Darius Mehri. Helene was an amazing and interesting woman; a woman certainly ahead of her time. She was accomplished at so many different things, and excellent at anything she ever did. She held many interests, enjoyed many people and various cultures, and developed lifelong relationships. Visiting hours will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Friday at Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. Prayers will be recited at 9:15 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, followed by a 10:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph's Church, 672 Stevens Avenue, Portland. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Alzheimer's Foundation, Maine Chapter, 383 US Route One, Suite 2C, Scarborough, Maine 04074. Online Condolences for Helene Cluff