Elsie (Hanninen) Heleen, 93 of Rochester died May 1, 2015 at Our Lady’s Haven in Fairhaven, MA. She was the wife of the late Arthur Heleen who died in 1985 and the daughter of the late Johannes and Hannah (Leppaluoto) Hanninen. She was predeceased by her sister, Lilian Niemi.
Elsie was born in Wareham and graduated from Wareham High School. Mrs. Heleen was a member of the Ocean Spray Cooperative, The Finnish American Club and the Finnish Congregational Church. She was a long time employee of the telephone company and made many cherished life-long friends there.
Elsie enjoyed the frequent visits at the Forestview Nursing Home by family, friends, neighbors and co-workers.
Survivors include her brother, Arni J. Hanninen and his wife Shirley of Methuen, her nephew, Michael Hanninen of Salem NH, her niece, Nancy Sheehan of Sandy Hook CT; her sister-in-law, Lillian Rinta of West Wareham; her brother-in-law, Edwin Heleen of Middleboro, and many more nieces and nephews.
Her funeral service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Thursday May 7, 2015 in the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Highway, Wareham. Burial will follow immediately at the Centre Cemetery.
Visiting hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Thursday May 7 just prior to the funeral service.
Donations in her memory may be made to: Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave. 7th Floor, NY, NY 10001.