Obituary of Mary Jean Hellenack

HERKIMER – Miss Mary Jean T. Hellenack, age 86, passed away peacefully on Thursday afternoon, September 30, 2021, in the privacy and comfort of her home. Born on February 2, 1935, Mary Jean was the daughter of the late Roy J. and Gertrude C. (Bennett) Hellenack. She was raised and educated in Herkimer, graduating from St. Francis de Sales School in 1948 and from Herkimer High School in 1952. She then went on to further her education, receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Oswego in 1956 and, finally, her Master’s in Education from Syracuse University in 1969. Mary’s working years were spent at the North Syracuse Elementary School, both Herkimer Elementary Schools and for Herkimer BOCES’ Adult Education and GED programs. Her impressive teaching career spanned a total of 50 years and she touched the lives of numerous young people throughout that time. In her free time, Miss Hellenack enjoyed walking her beloved Shih Tzu puppies, drawing, painting, reading historical novels and travelling abroad to Europe. She is survived by one brother, Leslie J. Hellenack and his wife, Bonnie Gray, of Boston; her two nephews, Scott D. Hellenack and his wife, Linda of Wake Forest, NC and Mark D. Hellenack and Zoe Liston of Hopkins, MN; her great-niece, Alyson Marie Hellenack of Wake Forest, NC; and a very special and dear friend, Zhanna Tarasenko, and her family. She was predeceased by her brother, Thomas F. Hellenack, and by her nephew, Brian Thomas Hellenack. Mary Jean’s earthly remains will be laid to rest in the family plot in Calvary Cemetery in Herkimer on Saturday, October 9, 2021 at 09:00AM. Mary Jean’s final wishes were pre-arranged and entrusted to the Enea Family Funeral Home, 220 North Washington Street, Herkimer, NY (315) 866-1011, Harry and Kevin Enea and Martin L. Ciaccia, Funeral Directors. Online notes of sympathy may be left at www.eneafamily.com.