Obituary of Helen Darling

Helen J. "Deanie" Darling, age 93, passed away on Saturday, February 14, 2015 at Seneca View Skilled Nursing Facility in Montour Falls, NY. Helen Jean Couch was born in Ithaca, NY on October 22, 1921, the daughter of the late Harvey Joel Couch and Helen (Hubbell) Couch. Deanie attended Odessa Central School and then went on to graduate from Cornell University in 1944 with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Microbiology. In October of 1944 she joined the U.S. Navy and was a Pharmacist's mate, second class at St. Albans Hospital in Bronx, NY, where she cared for the returning war wounded. After she married and had children, she worked in the laboratory of Schuyler Hospital and then retired from the laboratory at Arnot Ogden Memorial Hospital in 1993. Deanie enjoyed swimming in Seneca Lake and had a Hobie Cat sail boat called "The Blue Ghost" which sailed itself across the lake one stormy night in July, 1984. She liked sewing, knitting, bird watching, traveling and playing cards. She drove for Schuyler Co. RSVP and read for children at Reading Buddies in the Watkins Glen School. Deanie spent many happy hours singing in the Harmony Falls group out of Trumansburg, and she attended many functions with the Red Hat Society. She took comfort in caring for her many cats. She is survived by her sons Thomas Stanley Darling (Lillian) of Spencer, NY, John Henry Darling (Francine) of Mecklenburg, NY, and Anne Louise Darling Hull (Timothy) of Candor, NY. Also surviving are four granddaughters, Alexis, Ashley, Emily and Abbey, and four great-granddaughters, Evelyn, Charlise, Joelle, and Gabrielle. She is also survived by a favorite niece Chari Herendeen Krenis (Joel), her cousin Mary Coyle, and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was predeceased by her sisters, Jane, Mary Louise, Chari, the father of her children Stanley M. Darling and her son, Martin Joel Darling. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held in the spring at Highland Cemetery, in Odessa, NY, where her ashes will be interred at the Couch Family plot.