Obituary of Helen Hedden

Helen Hedden, 94, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 12 surrounded by her loved ones.

Born to Henry and Amelia (Walker) Schindler in Buffalo, NY in 1928.

After graduating from Kensington HS in Buffalo she attended Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, MA and then Newark State Teachers in NJ. It was at ENC where Helen met her lifelong sweetheart, Earl Hedden. They were married and had 3 children - Henry, Roger, & Nancy.

Helen & Earl were members of the first Nazarene Church of Dover (which later was named New Hope Community Church). She was Missionary President for 15 years, Director of Children’s Missions for the Upstate NY District, Vacation Bible School Director and Sunday School Teacher. In the Metro NY District, Helen was on the Mission Council for many years and was in charge of children’s Bible quizzing. 

They also attended Bethlehem Church. She volunteered in the awesome library, participated in Pioneer Girls, and assisted in a weekly Bible Study for preschoolers while mothers were in Bible Study.  Additionally, Helen and Earl attended the Senior Adult Group there.

Her love of our Lord was evident in her life & she had a deep commitment to the Lord & the spreading of God’s Word through missions.

In Helen’s career, she taught elementary grades in Lancaster, NY & Tonawanda, NY. They moved to Dover, NJ and she taught in Ironia School in Randolph, NJ and Academy Street School in Dover for 35 years. She was a member of the Dover Education Association & NJEA. She was a counselor & lifeguard at the Salvation Army Camp in Cuba Lake, NY & at Camp Taconic, a Nazarene camp in Red Hook, NY.

In her retirement, she was a caregiver for her husband Earl and remained active in church functions.

Helen was predeceased by her husband Earl, and her brother Henry Schindler of Elmira, NY.

She is survived by her children who were the light of her life: Henry & wife Marlene, Roger & wife Cathy, and Nancy & husband Steven.

She was blessed with 8 grandchildren: Erin & husband Jeff, Jason & wife Melissa, Tim, Kelly, Justin & wife Megan, Morganne & husband Jonathan, Taylor and Tyler.

She was blessed with 8 great grandchildren: Ethan & Owen, Bryce & Kaylee, Grayson, Finley & Elsie, and Cassidy.

We will miss Helen dearly, but we rejoice in the knowledge that she is with our Heavenly Father and will reunite with her husband Earl.

Visitation: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM on Saturday, February 25, 2023  with a Funeral Service to begin at 4:00 PM at Tuttle Funeral Home, 272 Route 10, Randolph (www.tuttlefh.com).

Interment is private.