Obituary: Helen K. Maltezos, 92, of Waterford

Information via Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home.

Helen Maltezos was born in Washington, PA on February 1, 1924 to Spero and Harriet Kosmas — both ethnically Greek immigrants from the former Ottoman Empire.

Helen was the twin of Agnes (Cynthia) Kosmas Matthews. The twins attended Washington Seminary on the campus of Washington and Jefferson College. The Seminary included junior college from which they graduated. Helen then went to Lake Erie College where she majored in sociology and obtained a Bachelor's Degree in 1946. Helen later earned her Master's of Library Science at Simmons College in Boston.

She was employed by the University of Connecticut as a librarian with a specialty in cataloguing. Meanwhile, Helen's publication of a short story, "The Hair Cut" in a literary journal landed her a coveted invitation to participate in the Bread Loaf Writer's Conference outside of Middlebury Vermont, "the oldest and most prestigious writers' conference in the country."

In 1957 Helen she traveled to Europe and visited Athens, Greece. On that trip Helen met talented Greek artist, Yannis Maltezos. After two years of written correspondence they decided to marry. They moved to Paris and lived there for most of their 28 years of marriage.

In 1987 when her husband passed away Helen returned to Connecticut and lived with her twin sister in Wethersfield and then Waterford. Helen and Agnes were founding members of the Wethersfield Book Club and participated for 29 years. After a brief illness Helen passed away on October 17 at the Green Tree Manor in Waterford. She was 92.

She is survived by nephews Stelio Kitrilakis and Spero Matthews and nieces Thiana Kitrilakis and Denise Matthews and their families. We loved her very much and she will be greatly missed.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday November 26 beginning 12 PM. St Sophia's Hellenic Orthodox Church at 200 Hempstead Avenue in New London (06320). In lieu of flowers donations to the Matthews-Maltezos Memorial Fund may be sent to St. Sophia's.