Newington Obituary: Helen McGee, 91

Helen Agnes (Czapkowski) McGee, 91, died Sunday, May 1, 2016 at Hartford Hospital. Helen resided at Bel-Air Manor, Newington, for the past two years. She was the widow of Howard McGee, born in Wethersfield.

Helen was born in Hartford, February 3, 1925, daughter of the late Vincent and Agnes (Stolarz) Czapkowski. She attended Chauncey Harris and Lawrence Street schools and was a graduate of Hartford Public High School class of 1942 for which she coordinated many class reunions. She was a voracious learner from an early age, and skipped the fifth grade. She was trained as a secretary/stenographer, and recognized for having extraordinary stenographic skills.

Her professional career as a senior secretary began with the Navy Department, Bureau of Yards & Docks, Hartford. Beginning 1944 she took a position at Avon Old Farms Convalescent Hospital, Newington, facilitating benefits due blind servicemen while performing secretarial duties for Colonel in charge of the Post. From 1946–1948 she was secretary to the vice president at Hartford-Empire, a glass manufacturer. She returned to civil service, working at the VA Hospital in Newington until 1956. She joined the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in 1958 working for four Postal Inspectors and one Investigative Aide responsible for all post offices in Hartford, Litchfield, and Tolland counties. She worked in liaison with police departments, U.S. Attorney's office, Security and Exchange Commission, and U.S. Marshal and assisted in making several arrests with postal inspectors. Her performance earned letters of commendation from the Chief Inspector in Washington.

In 1966 her knowledge of governmental procedures earned her a position as secretary to the President of Kahn & Company, Wethersfield, where she was responsible for reviewing contracts with NASA Space Program. She was cleared by the government as security officer for the company relating to invitations to bids, and company security.
She was secretary to the vice president and other department heads at C.E. Maguire, Inc. Wethersfield, 1969–1972.
Helen also served as a part-time secretary to the director of adult education, Wethersfield, from 1968 to 1971.
While working for the post office, she became "Santa's Secretary." Letters addressed to Santa Claus were forwarded to her desk. Each Christmas season she would take them home and compose a poem to mail to the children at her own expense. Years later she authored and published the book, "Santa's Secretary" in which many of them are published.

Her interests included dressmaking—from her early teens; family genealogy; and her service to the Polish Junior League which she served as Secretary and President. Helen will be remembered for her creativeness and writing skills, but especially for her loyalty, love, and devotion to her family. She was so proud of all of them.

She is survived by her son, Stephen Darcy McGee, and his wife, Sharon (Mueller); three grandsons: Joseph Darcy McGee (Amanda Ambrose) of Bristol, CT; Patrick James McGee (Rachel Bernier) of Bristol; Michael Alan McGee of Wethersfield, CT; a great grand-son, Nathan McGee and two great grand-daughters: Ursula McGee and Tabitha McGee; a brother, Raymond Czapkowski and wife Claire of Rochester, NY; two nieces: Eleanor (Wehrly) Blake of Hartford; Frances Mary (Stec) Petko of Ellington; two nephews: James Wehrly of Lancaster, CA; William Stec of Wethersfield; Peter Stec of Enfield, and sister in law Frances Stec and niece Nancy Stec of Enfield. She was predeceased by her sister, Evelyn (Wehrly); and a brother, Henry.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, May 6, at 11:00 a.m at Sacred Heart Church, 56 Hartford Ave, Old Wethersfield, with Rites of Committal following the Mass at Village Cemetery in Old Wethersfield. There are no calling hours and arrangements are under the care of Duksa Family Funeral Homes at Newington Memorial.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the The Hartford Public High School Museum & Archive, c/o R. J. Luke Williams, 123 Forest Street, Hartford, CT 06106.