WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Helen Ramona (Grindrod) Phelps, 89, of Williamstown, Mass., passed away peacefully with her family by her side on the evening of Sept. 7, 2018, at Williamstown Commons.

   

She was born in Boston, Mass., on January 16, 1929, to William and Helen Grindrod. She spent her early years in Boston before the family moved to Phillipston, Mass. It was there she met her husband, Clifton H. Phelps, whom she married in 1948.  They raised their family of four children in North Adams, relocating to Florida to live a happy retirement until he passed in 2001.



Helen then moved back north and spent her remaining years at Proprietor's Field in Williamstown, where she made many friends. She loved the written word and was never without a book by her side. She did the crossword in ink and played a mean game of Scrabble. Helen loved the ocean, including our yearly trips to Cape Cod, Mass., Jensen Beach, Fla., and Wells Beach, Maine.



Helen was predeceased by her husband Clifton in 2001; her son Stephen in 2009; her daughter Diane in 2017; and her five brothers.



She leaves her son, David (wife Cindy) of Painted Post, N.Y.; daughter Patricia (Alan) Lescarbeau of North Adams; one sister, Barbara Fenster of Titusville, Fla.; eight grandchildren, including Katie (Scott) Bailey of Westfield, Mass., Andrea (Jeffrey) Fletcher of Bloomington, Ind., Sarah Phelps of Houston, Texas, Amy Phelps of North Adams, Jason Phelps of Boston, Mass., and Jeffrey Phelps; eight great-grandchildren, including her three little guys, Ethan, Benjamin and Adam, whom she adored.



The family would like to thank Williamstown Commons and HospiceCare in the Berkshires for their kindness and compassion in her final days.



Funeral notice: The funeral for Helen Phelps will be Friday, September 14, 2018, at 10 a.m. at the First Congregational Church of North Adams. Burial will follow in Southview Cemetery.  There are no calling hours.



Donations may be made to the North Adams Library Children's Department in care of Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, Central Chapel, 74 Marshall St., North Adams, MA 01247. In her memory, read to a child and put a smile on their face.  Share a book with a friend and think of her with fondness.