Helen Geneva Zaharias, born to the late Claude and Minnie Weatherford, passed away on August 4, 2017, at the age of 99. She was a graduate of Hanover High School and the New Albany Business College. She worked as a legal secretary from 1936 to 1945 in the Elsby Building in New Albany for Stotsenberg, Weathers, Minton, Phillips, and Cody. She married Pete Zaharias on June 3, 1942; and they had three daughters, Ann Avery (Roger), Mary Lynn Watson (Dennis), and Kay Preston (Steve). Helen was preceded in death by her two sisters, Ethel Reed and Mary Heazlitt, and her husband, Pete.

She has nine grandchildren, Heather Swift Avery-Nordell, Rachel Avery, Casey Watson, Alexis Bullock, Rebecca Lee, Elizabeth Avery-Mamer, Neil Preston, Greg Preston, and Brent Preston, and six great grandchildren, Brookelyn and Kate Bullock, Calvin Lee, Sky Kaufman, Hayden Preston, and Genevieve Helen Mamer.

She loved gardening, bird watching, playing bridge, reading, doing crossword puzzles, sewing, and spending time with her loved ones.

Helen was a true treasure who taught others so much about life through her gentle kindness, strong spirit, generous nature, endless optimism, steadfast patience, wonderful sense of humor, and peaceful serenity. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

A memorial service will be held on October 7, 2017, at 11:30 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church in New Albany. Expressions of sympathy can be made to the New Albany Public Library Youth Department (80 West Spring Street, New Albany, IN 47150) or Trinity United Methodist church (2796 Charlestown Road, New Albany, IN 47150) in lieu of flowers.

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