NORWICH – Helen Gramstad, 86, a lifelong Norwich area resident, passed away Saturday morning, May 4, 2013 in the Norwich Rehab and Nursing Center of Norwich.
Helen was born in Norwich on Aug. 12, 1926 the daughter of Leslie and Frances Howard Eggleston. She was educated in the Norwich and South New Berlin schools from which she graduated. On March 13, 1949 she married Harry Gramstad who passed away Sept. 9, 1978. Over the years, Helen had worked the Woolworth’s Dept. Store and Fishman’s.
Helen was not a person to sit idle and enjoyed her independence. She was an excellent roller skater. As a youngster, when living in Holmesville, she and her siblings would skate to the roller rink in Amblerville for hours of fun. While living in Norwich she could often be seen skating her way to work at Woolworth’s. In later years, she looked forward to her Thursday outings at the roller rink in Oneonta with several of her friends. Helen was also an avid bowler. She bowled in several of the city’s leagues and was a member of the Women’s Bowling Hall of Fame.
Helen is survived by her children, Dagny Caputo and husband Rick of Norwich, Thomas Gramstad of So. New Berlin, David Gramstad of Norwich, Scott Gramstad and wife Darlene, also of Norwich, and Gunnar Gramstad of Daytona Beach, FL, her sister Beatrice Eastwood of Norwich, her 13 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Besides her husband, Harry, Helen was predeceased by her sons Daniel and Steven, her grandchildren Brian Gramstad and infant granddaughter Ann and her sisters Anna Ashcraft and Erma Noble.
Funeral services for Helen will be held at noon on Thursday from the R.J.Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Kurt Funke, Pastor of the Gilbertsville Baptist Church, will officiate. Interment will follow in the Mt. Hope Cemetery. Friends may call at the R.J.Fahy Funeral Home from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Thursday at noon.
Please consider memorial contributions to Hospice and Palliative Care of Chenango County, 21 Hayes St., Norwich, NY 13815