Obituary: Helen (Byrne) Townsend, 96, of Guilford

Obituary courtesy of Shoreline Cremation:

Helen (Byrne) Townsend, 96, of Guilford, died peacefully on Sunday, June 12, 2022, at Connecticut Hospice surrounded by her loving family. Helen was born on October 2, 1925, in Jersey City, NJ, the daughter of the late Luke A. and Anna (Kelly) Byrne. Helen grew up in Jersey City and graduated from St. Aloysius High School. She worked in New York City at AT&T. In 1950 she married John P. Townsend and raised her family in Spring Lake, NJ. She moved to warmer weather in New Bern, NC before moving to Solstice Senior Living 9 years ago.

Helen’s greatest love in her life was her family. She loved being with her daughters and grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed traveling to Bermuda with John, family trips to Duck, NC and visits with her family. She found joy in dancing, walks on the boardwalk and socializing with her friends. Helen was a devout Roman Catholic.

In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her husband of 61 years, John P. Townsend, her brother, Francis X. Byrne and her son-in-law, David G. Palmgren.

Helen is survived by her 4 daughters, Colleen McCormick and husband, Thomas D. of Madison, CT, Carolyn Rafferty and husband, James of Rochester Hills, MI, Cynthia Palmgren of Holden, MA and Christine Abbott and husband, Edward of Leesburg, VA and her brother-in-law, Robert Townsend and wife, Linda, of Mt. Pleasant, SC. She was the much-loved Grandma to Kerry, Alyson, Jimmy, Meaghan, Caitlin, Courtney, Maura, Matthew, Sarah, Katie, Zachary, Andrew, Eimile and Elizabeth. She was also the “GG” of 18 great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, June 18, 2022, at 11:00 am, at St. George Catholic Church, 33 Whitfield St., Guilford, CT 06437. Burial was at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in New Bern, NC beside her husband, John.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Road, Branford, CT 06405.