Helen Williams
Aug. 19, 1929 - Jan. 3, 2021
Helen Williams, “Grandma”, passed away on Jan. 3, 2021, at the age of 91.
She was born Aug. 19, 1929, in Hamlet, N.Y., and remained in the area throughout her life. In 1956, she and her husband bought a house in South Dayton, which she still owned. Grandma began work at a very young age and made it to some prominent positions. She worked in a grocery store, moved up to a quality control inspector at the local canning factory, a floral designer at Hagers, and finally retired at Cortrights Floral Shop. She joined the South Day-ton Fire Department in 1978 as a radio operator. After taking fire essentials, she became a firefighter and an EMT. She was very active in going to calls. It didn’t matter what was go-ing on, who or how many she had over, when the radio went off, she was grabbing her coat and walking the quarter mile to the station regardless of weather. She was always the first to arrive at the hall and it became a game of who could get to the station before her. Helen helped to get new buildings, create and run fundraisers, and do her part every bingo night. She eventually became a life member and ran the radio in the ambulance.
She was predeceased by her husband, Donald Williams, a gunner in World War II, on Dec, 26, 1966; and her daughter, Donna Lee (Williams) Hebner on Nov. 27, 2013. She is survived by a son, Daniel Williams of South Dayton; a son-in-law, Ronald Hebner of Cattaraugus; two grandchildren: Jody (Mario) Ockerhausen (Torres) of Columbus, Ohio and Tami Hebner of Cattar-augus; as well as her three great-grandchildren: Emma Pocobello, Matthew Risley, and Rebekah Risley. She also has two sisters: Alice (late Eugene) Williams of South Dayton and Susie (late Roy) Popard of Forestville; and several nieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be at Mentley Funeral Home Inc., 105 E. Main St., in Gowanda, N.Y., on Friday Jan. 8, from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m., with a small funeral to follow at 1 p.m.
She will be laid to rest in the Villenova Cemetery beside her husband.
Memorials may be made to South Dayton Fire Hall.