Helen Boothe French
October 3, 1926 - January 12, 2022
Helen B. French, 95, died peacefully on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at home surrounded by her family and friends in Roanoke, Va. She was born in Saltville, 'Va., to the late Edward and Offie (Farris) Boothe on October 3, 1926. Although she lived in Narrows, Va., and Luray, Va., in her younger years, she moved to Roanoke in 1954 where she lived for the remainder of her life.
Helen was the loving wife of Kenneth Coach" French for 59 years until his death in 2007. She was the caring and proud mother of three daughters, Wynona Virginia French, Mary Alice French, and Annamarie Lee "NiNie" Shea. Her oldest daughter, Wynona, preceded her in death in 2010 after a long illness. Helen was the youngest of nine children, and was preceded in death by her sisters, Virgie Arnold (E.R, of Saltville, Va, and Mary Sanders (Norval) of Saltville, Va., and brothers, Haskell Boothe (Glenna) of Rocky Mount, Va., Gene Boothe (Roberta) of Saltville, Va., Frank, Boothe of Saltville, Va., Malcolm "Cabbage" Boothe (Margaret) of Glade Spring, Va, Landon Bryant Boothe (Kathryn) of Narrows Va, and Sylvester Boothe (Cornelia) of Virginia Beach, Va. She was also preceded in death by a truly loving niece, Karen Wills of Kernersville, N.C.. who visited her frequently until her untimely death in 2021. Aileen Nichols, her traveling and cruising friend, who was fike a sister from another mother. deserves honorable mention too.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Mary Alice French and Annamarie Lee "NiNie" Shea; son-in-law, Karl Shea of Chicago, IL; grandson, Kenneth Michael Shea of Hillsdale, Mich.; granddaughters, Mary Elizabeth Shea of Portland, Ore, and Dr. Katherine Marie
Shea of Austin, Texas. Many family members and friends will miss her wonderful sense of humor and the unique fun-loving personality traits she possessed. Her little dog, Andy, was her companion and confidante until her death.
She was a charter member of the Unity Church of Roanoke Valley, and a longtime member of the Sigma Tau Delta Sorority where she also served as its President. In her earlier years, she worked tirelessly promoting and chaperoning the Miss Virginia Beauty Pageant contestants. She loved beauty pageants and never refused an invitation te judge local Little Miss Beauty Pageants.
After she retired as a police dispatcher for the City of Roanoke, she worked at Oakey's Funeral Home - North Chapel where she greeted and comforted people who had lost loved ones. An extra benefit of this position gave her the opportunity to reconnect with old friends she had not seen in years. Always one to stay busy, she sat with hospitalized incarcerated prisoners, briefly worked at Roanoke Regional Airport Security screening customer's belongings, and also shuttled cars for Hertz Car Rental
She was well-loved and admired by her family and many close friends. She was her family's matriarch, advisor, travel companion, and always the life of the party. The family gave her the nickname "Queenie" years ago because she was always a reliable source of sound advice. She loved life to the fullest and spent every minute enjoying everything it had to offer. She loved to shop and enjoyed being surrounded by beauty. If Valley View Mall had a "Hall of Fame for Shoppers," she would definitely be at the top of the list. Traveling and seeing the world were always major priorities for her; anything she set her mind to do, she successfully accomplished.
A Celebration of Helen's life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 28, 2022, at Oakey's North Chapel, 6732 Peters Creek, Road, N.W., Roanoke. The family will receive friends at a reception following the funeral service.
Donation gifts may be sent in loving memory on behalf of Helen French to Angels of Assisi, or to the UFW Post 1264.
October 3, 1926 - January 12, 2022
Helen B. French, 95, died peacefully on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at home surrounded by her family and friends in Roanoke, Va. She was born in Saltville, 'Va., to the late Edward and Offie (Farris) Boothe on October 3, 1926. Although she lived in Narrows, Va., and Luray, Va., in her younger years, she moved to Roanoke in 1954 where she lived for the remainder of her life.
Helen was the loving wife of Kenneth Coach" French for 59 years until his death in 2007. She was the caring and proud mother of three daughters, Wynona Virginia French, Mary Alice French, and Annamarie Lee "NiNie" Shea. Her oldest daughter, Wynona, preceded her in death in 2010 after a long illness. Helen was the youngest of nine children, and was preceded in death by her sisters, Virgie Arnold (E.R, of Saltville, Va, and Mary Sanders (Norval) of Saltville, Va., and brothers, Haskell Boothe (Glenna) of Rocky Mount, Va., Gene Boothe (Roberta) of Saltville, Va., Frank, Boothe of Saltville, Va., Malcolm "Cabbage" Boothe (Margaret) of Glade Spring, Va, Landon Bryant Boothe (Kathryn) of Narrows Va, and Sylvester Boothe (Cornelia) of Virginia Beach, Va. She was also preceded in death by a truly loving niece, Karen Wills of Kernersville, N.C.. who visited her frequently until her untimely death in 2021. Aileen Nichols, her traveling and cruising friend, who was fike a sister from another mother. deserves honorable mention too.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Mary Alice French and Annamarie Lee "NiNie" Shea; son-in-law, Karl Shea of Chicago, IL; grandson, Kenneth Michael Shea of Hillsdale, Mich.; granddaughters, Mary Elizabeth Shea of Portland, Ore, and Dr. Katherine Marie
Shea of Austin, Texas. Many family members and friends will miss her wonderful sense of humor and the unique fun-loving personality traits she possessed. Her little dog, Andy, was her companion and confidante until her death.
She was a charter member of the Unity Church of Roanoke Valley, and a longtime member of the Sigma Tau Delta Sorority where she also served as its President. In her earlier years, she worked tirelessly promoting and chaperoning the Miss Virginia Beauty Pageant contestants. She loved beauty pageants and never refused an invitation te judge local Little Miss Beauty Pageants.
After she retired as a police dispatcher for the City of Roanoke, she worked at Oakey's Funeral Home - North Chapel where she greeted and comforted people who had lost loved ones. An extra benefit of this position gave her the opportunity to reconnect with old friends she had not seen in years. Always one to stay busy, she sat with hospitalized incarcerated prisoners, briefly worked at Roanoke Regional Airport Security screening customer's belongings, and also shuttled cars for Hertz Car Rental
She was well-loved and admired by her family and many close friends. She was her family's matriarch, advisor, travel companion, and always the life of the party. The family gave her the nickname "Queenie" years ago because she was always a reliable source of sound advice. She loved life to the fullest and spent every minute enjoying everything it had to offer. She loved to shop and enjoyed being surrounded by beauty. If Valley View Mall had a "Hall of Fame for Shoppers," she would definitely be at the top of the list. Traveling and seeing the world were always major priorities for her; anything she set her mind to do, she successfully accomplished.
A Celebration of Helen's life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 28, 2022, at Oakey's North Chapel, 6732 Peters Creek, Road, N.W., Roanoke. The family will receive friends at a reception following the funeral service.
Donation gifts may be sent in loving memory on behalf of Helen French to Angels of Assisi, or to the UFW Post 1264.
Helen Boothe French
October 3, 1926 - January 12, 2022
Helen B. French, 95, died peacefully on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at home surrounded by her family and friends in Roanoke, Va. She was born in Saltville, 'Va., to the late Edward and Offie (Farris) Boothe on October 3, 1926. Although she lived in Narrows, Va., and Luray, Va., in her younger years, she moved to Roanoke in 1954 where she lived for the remainder of her life.
Helen was the loving wife of Kenneth Coach" French for 59 years until his death in 2007. She was the caring and proud mother of three daughters, Wynona Virginia French, Mary Alice French, and Annamarie Lee "NiNie" Shea. Her oldest daughter, Wynona, preceded her in death in 2010 after a long illness. Helen was the youngest of nine children, and was preceded in death by her sisters, Virgie Arnold (E.R, of Saltville, Va, and Mary Sanders (Norval) of Saltville, Va., and brothers, Haskell Boothe (Glenna) of Rocky Mount, Va., Gene Boothe (Roberta) of Saltville, Va., Frank, Boothe of Saltville, Va., Malcolm "Cabbage" Boothe (Margaret) of Glade Spring, Va, Landon Bryant Boothe (Kathryn) of Narrows Va, and Sylvester Boothe (Cornelia) of Virginia Beach, Va. She was also preceded in death by a truly loving niece, Karen Wills of Kernersville, N.C.. who visited her frequently until her untimely death in 2021. Aileen Nichols, her traveling and cruising friend, who was fike a sister from another mother. deserves honorable mention too.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Mary Alice French and Annamarie Lee "NiNie" Shea; son-in-law, Karl Shea of Chicago, IL; grandson, Kenneth Michael Shea of Hillsdale, Mich.; granddaughters, Mary Elizabeth Shea of Portland, Ore, and Dr. Katherine Marie
Shea of Austin, Texas. Many family members and friends will miss her wonderful sense of humor and the unique fun-loving personality traits she possessed. Her little dog, Andy, was her companion and confidante until her death.
She was a charter member of the Unity Church of Roanoke Valley, and a longtime member of the Sigma Tau Delta Sorority where she also served as its President. In her earlier years, she worked tirelessly promoting and chaperoning the Miss Virginia Beauty Pageant contestants. She loved beauty pageants and never refused an invitation te judge local Little Miss Beauty Pageants.
After she retired as a police dispatcher for the City of Roanoke, she worked at Oakey's Funeral Home - North Chapel where she greeted and comforted people who had lost loved ones. An extra benefit of this position gave her the opportunity to reconnect with old friends she had not seen in years. Always one to stay busy, she sat with hospitalized incarcerated prisoners, briefly worked at Roanoke Regional Airport Security screening customer's belongings, and also shuttled cars for Hertz Car Rental
She was well-loved and admired by her family and many close friends. She was her family's matriarch, advisor, travel companion, and always the life of the party. The family gave her the nickname "Queenie" years ago because she was always a reliable source of sound advice. She loved life to the fullest and spent every minute enjoying everything it had to offer. She loved to shop and enjoyed being surrounded by beauty. If Valley View Mall had a "Hall of Fame for Shoppers," she would definitely be at the top of the list. Traveling and seeing the world were always major priorities for her; anything she set her mind to do, she successfully accomplished.
A Celebration of Helen's life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 28, 2022, at Oakey's North Chapel, 6732 Peters Creek, Road, N.W., Roanoke. The family will receive friends at a reception following the funeral service.
Donation gifts may be sent in loving memory on behalf of Helen French to Angels of Assisi, or to the UFW Post 1264.
October 3, 1926 - January 12, 2022
Helen B. French, 95, died peacefully on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at home surrounded by her family and friends in Roanoke, Va. She was born in Saltville, 'Va., to the late Edward and Offie (Farris) Boothe on October 3, 1926. Although she lived in Narrows, Va., and Luray, Va., in her younger years, she moved to Roanoke in 1954 where she lived for the remainder of her life.
Helen was the loving wife of Kenneth Coach" French for 59 years until his death in 2007. She was the caring and proud mother of three daughters, Wynona Virginia French, Mary Alice French, and Annamarie Lee "NiNie" Shea. Her oldest daughter, Wynona, preceded her in death in 2010 after a long illness. Helen was the youngest of nine children, and was preceded in death by her sisters, Virgie Arnold (E.R, of Saltville, Va, and Mary Sanders (Norval) of Saltville, Va., and brothers, Haskell Boothe (Glenna) of Rocky Mount, Va., Gene Boothe (Roberta) of Saltville, Va., Frank, Boothe of Saltville, Va., Malcolm "Cabbage" Boothe (Margaret) of Glade Spring, Va, Landon Bryant Boothe (Kathryn) of Narrows Va, and Sylvester Boothe (Cornelia) of Virginia Beach, Va. She was also preceded in death by a truly loving niece, Karen Wills of Kernersville, N.C.. who visited her frequently until her untimely death in 2021. Aileen Nichols, her traveling and cruising friend, who was fike a sister from another mother. deserves honorable mention too.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Mary Alice French and Annamarie Lee "NiNie" Shea; son-in-law, Karl Shea of Chicago, IL; grandson, Kenneth Michael Shea of Hillsdale, Mich.; granddaughters, Mary Elizabeth Shea of Portland, Ore, and Dr. Katherine Marie
Shea of Austin, Texas. Many family members and friends will miss her wonderful sense of humor and the unique fun-loving personality traits she possessed. Her little dog, Andy, was her companion and confidante until her death.
She was a charter member of the Unity Church of Roanoke Valley, and a longtime member of the Sigma Tau Delta Sorority where she also served as its President. In her earlier years, she worked tirelessly promoting and chaperoning the Miss Virginia Beauty Pageant contestants. She loved beauty pageants and never refused an invitation te judge local Little Miss Beauty Pageants.
After she retired as a police dispatcher for the City of Roanoke, she worked at Oakey's Funeral Home - North Chapel where she greeted and comforted people who had lost loved ones. An extra benefit of this position gave her the opportunity to reconnect with old friends she had not seen in years. Always one to stay busy, she sat with hospitalized incarcerated prisoners, briefly worked at Roanoke Regional Airport Security screening customer's belongings, and also shuttled cars for Hertz Car Rental
She was well-loved and admired by her family and many close friends. She was her family's matriarch, advisor, travel companion, and always the life of the party. The family gave her the nickname "Queenie" years ago because she was always a reliable source of sound advice. She loved life to the fullest and spent every minute enjoying everything it had to offer. She loved to shop and enjoyed being surrounded by beauty. If Valley View Mall had a "Hall of Fame for Shoppers," she would definitely be at the top of the list. Traveling and seeing the world were always major priorities for her; anything she set her mind to do, she successfully accomplished.
A Celebration of Helen's life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 28, 2022, at Oakey's North Chapel, 6732 Peters Creek, Road, N.W., Roanoke. The family will receive friends at a reception following the funeral service.
Donation gifts may be sent in loving memory on behalf of Helen French to Angels of Assisi, or to the UFW Post 1264.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
