Avis de décès de Helen-Bright Bryant - Nécrologie - MesAieux.com

Helen Bright A loving tribute written by Helen's children, Carol and George. Helen Bright Bryant passed away on Tuesday morning, January 3, 2006. She was the eldest child of William E. Bright, Sr. and George Cure Bright. Helen was predeceased by her husband Charles Nelson Bryant and her brothers William E. Bright and George C. Bright. The family wishes to thank the entire staff of the Chemung County Nursing Facility and Dr. Francisco J. Corbalan for the attentive and compassionate care they gave to her. Helen will be cremated and buried next to her husband, Charles. Family and friends are invited to celebrate Helen's life at a memorial service held in Caywood's Funeral Home & Gardens, Southport, NY on Sunday afternoon, January 8th. Between the hours of 1:00-2:00 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. Born in Scranton, PA on June 9, 1909, Helen grew up in a musical household and played piano as part of a family orchestra. At 14 she started taking organ lessons at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Green Ridge, PA. She also played for the silent movies at the Roosevelt Theater in Green Ridge not only to make money, but so she could have a place to practice. While attending Scranton Central High School she met the love of her life, Charles Bryant. After graduating from Central, she went on to Syracuse University where she studied organ and piano earning a BA degree in music. She was the first organist for Hendricks Chapel at Syracuse when it opened in 1930. During her senior year, she earned the highest average in the school of music and was given a full scholarship to complete her Master's degree. She married Charles on March 29, 1932 and together they raised three children. During the summers of 1956-1960, Helen and Charles directed an Episcopal Church Camp in Tunkhannock, PA and the YWCA Camp Owaissa on Lake Ariel, PA. Realizing her dream of being a concert organist and piano accompanist, Helen played and taught music throughout her life, concertizing extensively in Pennsylvania, New York and California. Shortly before her husband's death in 1964, she enrolled in Marywood College where she earned a Master's degree in Education. She then taught music at Blue Ridge School District in New Milford, Clarks Summit and Forest City, PA. In addition to teaching Helen was the organist and choir director at numerous churches throughout Pennsylvania and New York. For eighteen years she was the organist and choir director at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Scranton, PA. Helen was co-founder of the Scranton Singers' Guild and accompanist for the former Scranton Philharmonic Orchestra. She was also a member of the AGO and the BPWC. A few years before her retirement, her brother, William Bright, became ill and Helen moved to California to spend time with him. While there she worked at San Bernardino College and toured with their choir as accompanist, playing in the Redlands and San Francisco Cathedrals among others. After William became better, she returned to Pennsylvania and completed her teaching career at the Blue Ridge School District retiring in 1974. Following her retirement she continued teaching organ and piano in her private music studio which she maintained until she moved to Elmira, NY to live with her daughter Carol and son-in-law Larry. Among other talents, Helen wrote service music, as well as numerous arrangements and descants for her choirs. In addition she set her brother William's poems to music and presented them at a recital in New Milford PA, accompanying her daughters Carol and Nancy who were vocal soloists. Many of her students kept in touch with her throughout her life. Even in her late eighties while living with Carol and Larry, she still worked with several adult piano students and practiced regularly. Helen leaves behind her beloved family including children George Bryant, Carol & Larry Kennedy and Nancy & Nelson Janigian; former daughter-in-law Theodora Bryant; seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren: Heather and Ed Groszewski, with Helen's great grandchildren Kage and Katherine Rose; Heath and fiancee Christa Cox; Jared and Christy Kennedy; Charles with great granddaughter Morgan; George, Tracy, and Tisha and Pierre Momjian with great grandson Nicholas Nelson. Nieces and nephews are Marian Horak, Jeanne and Dick LeClere, Susan Bright and John Andrews, Megan Bright and Jud Bright. Numerous grand nephews and nieces also survive. To quote a friend of the family, "The world is better because Helen Bright Bryant lived. She gave those of us who knew her an immortal legacy, because what we've learned, what we feel, what we think, we must inevitably pass on to others. What she lived, what she stood for and what she taught others is ageless and imperishable." The family will provide flowers and request memorials be directed to the Scranton Singers Guild, 449 Arthur Ave. Scranton, PA 18510 or St. Mark's Episcopal Church, PO Box 406, New Milford, PA 18834 in her memory.