Windsor Obituary: Helen Andre, 99

Helen K. Andre died on January 14, 2018. Beloved daughter of Walter & Bertha Kondzior, she was born in Windsor on August 20, 1918.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband (George), son (Scott), stepson (Stephen), sister and brother-in-law (Florence & Lucian Klejbuk), brother and sister-in-law (Zigmund & Blanche Kondzior).

Helen was born and raised in Windsor and lived there almost all of her life, moving to West Hartford in 2005. She loved Windsor and knew it when it had fields of wild daisies, trillium, marsh marigolds, strawberries and apple blossoms. Her parents purchased land in Wilson and called the place “The Lot”. Her father planted apple and sour cherry trees, the fruit used for pies, pastry and just eating.

As a child she would hide in the tall grass and watch pheasants parading around the back yard. There was a brook that ran through the property and she and her siblings would ice skate on it in the winter. They also made a miniature golf course.

She attended school in a one-room schoolhouse in Poquonock where she enjoyed her studies, especially when the students were allowed to participate in the advanced classes. They went on field trips and studied wildlife and plants. She attended the Roger Wolcott School and then graduated from the John Fitch High School in 1936.

After graduation she was employed by the Fuller Brush Company where she participated in the chorus and was chair of the Garden Club. While at Fuller Brush she took up skiing, ice skating and golf. She took great pleasure in these activities and spent vacations in Vermont and Canada. However gardening always was her first love. While at Fuller Brush she competed in the largest strawberry contests and kept the nurse’s office filled with fresh flowers.

During WWII she took a leave of absence and worked for Hamilton Standard. She returned to Fuller Brush and remained there until her son was born in 1955. She later worked for Connecticut General.

Helen married George Andre in 1952. They lived in Windsor on a beautiful lot of land that was lovingly turned into a park full of plants, tress and flowers. They lived there over 50 years. She raised her stepson and son to have a deep appreciate for nature and wildlife.

She was a friendly person who continued to keep in touch with many friends from coast to coast. She was a gardener who loved to grow beautiful flowers to give to family and friends. She was very happy when asked to give flowers for her church altars. She was a member of St. Gabriel’s Church and volunteered for many years in the church’s school. She also participated in the annual musical productions created by Father O’Keeffe.

She enjoyed a long and interesting life. She was an energetic person who loved gardening and reading. She loved books and memorized passages from poems and Shakespeare. She loved public speaking and gave talks to garden clubs on plants, flowers and Christmas customs. She did embroidery and knitting and created her own designs. She was invited to New York to show some of her creations to a company, which used some for their advertisements for ski lodges.

Helen, with her husband, raised Maine Coon cats and produced two outstanding Grand Champion cats, Dior and Michelle. Many of their cats were shipped to owners in Europe and states throughout America. The cats were praised for their size and large pluming tails. Because of the Andre’s contributions, along with others, the Maine Coon gene was preserved as the only long-haired American cat.

Helen leaves many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and lifelong friends.

Her family will receive friends Thursday, January 25, 2018 from 8:30-9:30 AM at Carmon Windsor Funeral Home, 807 Bloomfield Ave, Windsor followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Gabriel Church, Windsor. Burial will be in Mount St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her name to: Connecticut Humane Society, 701 Russell Road, Newington, CT 06111.

Condolences may be sent to her niece, Kathy Heuer, 1115 Elway St, #308, St. Paul, MN 55116.