Helen Forester Lester passed away on Saturday, May 10, 2025.

Helen was born to parents Charles and Wanda Tarbox Forester on June 17, 1928, at the home of her aunt and uncle Willard and Katie Strong of Deposit, NY. She attended a two room school at Scott Center, PA for grades 1 thru 6 and then entered Hancock Central School for grades 7 thru 12. She graduated from HCS in 1946 and entered the State Teachers College at East Stroudsburg, PA, graduating in 1950 with a Bachelors Degree in education. She received her Masters Degree from Syracuse University in 1956. In the fall of 1950, she began her teaching career at Hancock Central School, teaching english and social studies. In 1959, she began teaching junior high math and then 9th and 10th grade math. Helen retired from Hancock Central School after 32 years of teaching. She truly enjoyed teaching and young people. She served as an advisor of the journalism club, class advisor, and honor society advisor. Helen chaperoned many senior trips and went with a group of students from area schools to Italy.

Helen married Wellington F. Lester on June 24, 1956 and went as a bride to live in Equinunk, PA, at his family home.

She was a member of the Emory United Methodist Church where she served as Memorial Chairperson, head of parsonage committee, one term as president of the United Methodist Women, treasurer of the United Methodist Women for many years, and as a trustee.

Helen belonged to the Twentieth Century Book Club, Read Memorial Hospital Guild, member of the Louise Adelia Read Library Board, and Delta Kappa Gamma (a women's teachers organization). She was an avid reader and knitter. She always wanted to be a teacher. Before she started school, she taught her dolls. Watching her students succeed in math, graduate from high school, and follow their dreams gave her great pleasure. She always enjoyed their visits or cards.

Surviving are nieces, Wanda Raymond and Mary Beth Michaud; nephew, Harold Walker; and many great, great great, and great great great nieces and nephews. Helen was predeceased by her parents; brothers, Kenneth (Mary) and Clayton (Ellen); sisters: Anna (Lincoln) Corey, Iona (Louis) Bergman, and Ella (Clarence) Walker; nephews: Charles Corey, Lincoln Corey, Elwood Forester, Louis Bergman, Kenneth Corey, Leigh Walker, and Richard Forester; and nieces, Iona Kellam and Roberta Hollenbeck.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, May 16, 2025 from 5-7PM at the Henderson-Biedekapp Funeral Chapel, Hancock. A funeral will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 2PM also at the funeral chapel. Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery, Hancock.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Hancock Community Education Foundation, Helen and Wellington Lester Math and Science Scholarship Fund P.O. Box 819 Hancock, NY, 13783. This scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior who will pursue college studies in either the field of mathematics or science.

Arrangements by Henderson-Biedekapp Funeral Chapel, Hancock, NY.