Helen Claremont

October 26, 1925 - December 19, 2010

Helen Claremont passed away peacefully Sunday with her family and friends at her side. Helen was born in Albany. She lived most of her life in the Kings Valley-Hoskins area, where she attended grade school and high school. After graduation, she married Albert Claremont on Dec. 24, 1944. They had three children, Sharlene, Charlotte and Ted. Helen was a natural-born caregiver. She took care of her ill mother following her father’s death when she was 13 years old. Albert and Helen had a foster home for children for many years. They treated them all like family, and enjoyed helping them. In their later years, they had a home for disabled people. After Albert’s death in 1986, Helen continued caring for Kathy and David, who had been with her for many years, until they also passed away. Among her many hobbies, Helen was a doll collector. She loved her dolls. She also liked garage sales, and could always find something someone needed. She loved helping people. She loved to cook and can. A people lover, Helen always enjoyed being surrounded by her friends and visiting with them. As the saying goes, she would have given the shirt off her back if they needed it. Helen was a wonderful person with a heart of gold. She will be missed very much. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Sharlene Kasner and Jeff Hawkinson of Corvallis, Charlotte and Clyde Porter of Bend, and Ted and Theresa Claremont of Hoskins; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one niece; one nephew; and two adopted daughters, Cookie Johnson and Tena Tuohy. In addition to her husband, Albert, she was preceded in death by her brother, Lawrence, and grandson John. A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 30, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Philomath. Private burial will take place at the Claremont Cemetery in Hoskins. Memorial contributions can be made to the Mary’s River Gleaners, PO Box 2309, Corvallis, OR 97339.