Obituary of Helen Josephine Whitney

Helen Josephine Clark Whitney, 102 years old, passed away in her New Jersey home on April 7, 2020.  She was born on September 27,1917 in Orchard Iowa. Helen was the oldest surviving member of the Orchard High School 1935 graduating class.

After graduating high school, Helen moved to her Aunt's home in Rockford Il. She visited her grandparent's farm often in Seward, Il. Across the road on the Whitney farm lived Emerson Whitney and on August, 22,1938 they were married. Helen and Emerson were partners in farming and she remained proud of being a farmer all her life. As a child her mustang horse was her best fried and the love of horses never left her. In fact, she loved all rcritters", the week before she passed away, she was out feeding and birds, squirrels and chipmunks, often out of her hand. Helen was also life-time member of the Eastern Star.

She is predeceased by her husband, Emerson Whitney (1999), son Darrell Whitney {2016} and sister Colleen Clark, {1945} Her survivors include: Daughter. Kay Whitney Hurd, Son in Law, Robert Hurd, Warren, NJ. Daughter in law; Karen Rosen Whitney, Bowdoinham ME. Grandchildren; Laurie Hurd Hill, Lincoln Il., Valerie Hurd Canning, Franklin TN, Darrell Whitney, Farmington ME. Great Grandchildren; Victoria Hill Matas, Mt. Zion, IL, Gwendolyn Hill Quaid, Houston, TX, Andrew Canning, Johnson City, TN, Kathryn Canning Steier. Fairfax. VA. Timothy Canning, Grand Rapids, MI Great-great grandchildren: Michael and Alex Matas, Mt. Zion, IL, Eila and Evie Quaid, Houston TX.

Services will be at Twelve Mile Grove Cemetery, in Seward, IL when this Covid 19 virus pandemic is over.