Helen was the daughter of Irving Collins and Gertrude (Henderson) Collins. She attended school in South Blue Hill and was a graduate of George Stevens Academy. She and her beloved husband, John Sylvester, were married in 1939. A few years later she accompanied her husband to North Carolina, where many of the local men went for work and to help the war effort. Helen and her husband moved back to South Blue Hill to raise their family. In her early married years she baked for local stores and became known for her elaborate wedding cakes, which she continued to make until a few years ago. Her full-time baking job gave way to a secretarial job at Merle B. Grindle Agency, Blue Hill, from where she eventually retired. Helen was well known for her watercolor art and many of her paintings can be found in local homes, galleries and antique stores. She made her own greeting cards from pressed flowers that are still prized possessions of their recipients. Her art and hand painted Christmas ornaments were annual blue ribbon winners at the Blue Hill Fair. She was a much sought after resource when it came to the history of South Blue Hill and Long Island. She was a descendant of the Henderson family on Long Island and was the keeper of many photographs and letters that she generously made available to whoever was interested. Helen had recently started writing children's stories and hymns. Her book, "Yellow Boatie" was published in 2008 and she was working on two more stories at the time of her death.
Helen was the daughter of Irving Collins and Gertrude (Henderson) Collins. She attended school in South Blue Hill and was a graduate of George Stevens Academy. She and her beloved husband, John Sylvester, were married in 1939. A few years later she accompanied her husband to North Carolina, where many of the local men went for work and to help the war effort. Helen and her husband moved back to South Blue Hill to raise their family. In her early married years she baked for local stores and became known for her elaborate wedding cakes, which she continued to make until a few years ago. Her full-time baking job gave way to a secretarial job at Merle B. Grindle Agency, Blue Hill, from where she eventually retired. Helen was well known for her watercolor art and many of her paintings can be found in local homes, galleries and antique stores. She made her own greeting cards from pressed flowers that are still prized possessions of their recipients. Her art and hand painted Christmas ornaments were annual blue ribbon winners at the Blue Hill Fair. She was a much sought after resource when it came to the history of South Blue Hill and Long Island. She was a descendant of the Henderson family on Long Island and was the keeper of many photographs and letters that she generously made available to whoever was interested. Helen had recently started writing children's stories and hymns. Her book, "Yellow Boatie" was published in 2008 and she was working on two more stories at the time of her death.
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