QUEENSBURY and HUDSON FALLS – Helen Elizabeth Lewis Cackener, 87, formerly of Hudson Falls and more recently of Queensbury, passed away after a short illness Tuesday, September 24, 2013, at Albany Medical Center. Born in Elmira, NY, July 4, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Norman P. Lewis and Grace (Oakes) Lewis.
Helen graduated early from Newark Valley High School and then attended Wyoming Seminary Prep School in Kingston, PA for one year before entering Oberlin College. Helen was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and received her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, Magna cum Laude, from Oberlin in 1948. Helen followed in her mother’s footsteps, and felt called to teaching. She earned a Master’s degree in Teaching from Harvard, where she was elected to Pi Lambda Theta. In 1964 Helen received a John Hay Fellowship in Humanities to study at Williams College and then attended a NYS Summer Institute in the Humanities at Rochester Institute of Technology. In the 1980’s, Helen continued her studies in Shakespeare and modern British poets at Worcester College, Oxford, England, and the Ashland Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
Helen taught at Westbrook College in Portland Maine, and in Schenectady, prior to coming to Hudson Falls High School in 1960. Helen taught English, Humanities, and Folklore there for 25 years, retiring in 1985. She also advised the National Honor Society and served on the Executive Committee of the Hudson Falls Teachers’ Association, as a representative to the Assembly of the NYSTA, and as a state committee member for NYSUT. Helen was a member of the NYS Folklore Society and wrote folklore and local history articles for the Glens Falls Today and Saratoga Style magazines. Helen retold local ghost stories to many audiences over the years.
Helen was very active in her community and church. She served three terms on the Session of the First Presbyterian Church in Hudson Falls where she was the first woman Elder and the first woman to be Clerk of Session. In 1987, Helen was named Woman of the Year at the Presbyterian Church. Helen was also honored as Woman of the Year by the Hudson Falls Business and Professional Women’s Club in 2001 and as a Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts, Adirondack Council, in 2002. Along with her husband Robert M. Cackener, Helen was a dedicated volunteer for WMHT and the Adirondack Repertory Dance Theater, a docent at the Hyde Collection, and a volunteer usher for many years at SPAC. Helen was also an active member of AAUW, Friends in Council, P.E.O., Delta Kappa Gamma, the Morning Literature Group, the YMCA Water Work-Out group, and her local ovarian cancer support group.
Helen was predeceased by her best friend and husband of 53 years, Robert M. Cackener; by her sister, Anne Lewis Livezey; and by her first husband, Daniel Glyndwr Lewis. Survivors include three daughters, Deborah Lewis Poplasky and her husband, Thomas, of Canandaigua, Elizabeth Lewis-Michl and her husband, Thomas, of Delmar, and Margaret Lewis-Price of Tualatin, OR; seven grandchildren, Caitlin Poplasky Bartusch and her husband, Jeff; Betsy Adkins and her husband, Chad; Glyn Michl, Meredith Michl, Sarah Price, Hannah Price, and Rob Price; and one great-grandson, Thomas Adkins.
A list of Helen’s favorite things would be long indeed. Helen ’s love of friends and family, her dedication to her students, and her enthusiasm for, to name just a few, books, ballet, chamber music, singing, poetry, modern art, architecture, and swimming in Lake George, will be long remembered.
Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, September 30, 2013, at Carleton Funeral Home Inc., 68 Main St., Hudson Falls.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 1, 2013, at First Presbyterian Church in Hudson Falls, with the Rev. Laura Lovell-Mitchell officiating. Burial will follow at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 1, 2013, at Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Duell Road, Saratoga.
The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to First Presbyterian Church of Hudson Falls, 5 River St., Hudson Falls, NY 12839.
Although not proper English, “back together again.” Beautiful memories of beautiful parents, grandparents, family, friends, educators, patrons and artisans. And favorite friends of our parents Wayne and Edna from so many years ago. Thank you Deb, Betsy, Meg and your families for sharing such truly amazing gifts with us all. And thank you Mr. and Mrs. C. for helping us see the lights in each other, and ourselves. love always.
Condolences to Helen’s family. She and Bob were delightful people I knew for years through the arts organizations we supported. Every time I went to the ballet at SPAC, I looked to see if they were there. Many times, they were. We would talk over the performances during intermissions. Sometimes we didn’t agree on what we had seen– and that made it even more fun.
Now they are gone and the ballet is barely there, but those years have given me many lasting happy memories. I will never forget this outstanding and entertaining couple.
It was my honor to serve as interim pastor at the Hudson Falls Presbyterian Church and to get to know Helen and Bob. I joined with Helen and both families — the Cackener extended family and the church family — for Bob’s memorial service, and join you now in spirit to remember Helen’s remarkable life and the impact of this special couple on so many over the years. As a fellow English major and lover of poetry and folklore and music, I treasure those moments with Helen, sharing those loves with her. I can imagine Helen’s enthusiasm and her bright smiles at the wonders of heaven!
I was blessed to have had Mrs. Cackener as a teacher. She was a wonderful person and one of the happiest people I’ve ever met. She treated everyone with respect and dignity. I’m happy for her that she is with the love of her life once again. My deepest sympathy to her family and to anyone who ever crossed her path. She will always have a special place in the hearts that knew her.
Was just looking at my dad’s obituary and saw Mrs. Cackner’s. One of my favorite teachers for her dedication and just a beautiful a person! As my parents have been they been a great couple very much in love.
We were blessed to have both Helen and Bob a part of our YMCA Family. They were a significant part of our group and will be missed by all. Helen’s water exercise classmates loved having her as a part of the group. Our thoughts go out to Helen’s family and friends.
To Helen’s family
The gentle eyes, the smile and the continuing interest
in the Lewis family tree always made us close to the
pair. Together again and walking on. God bless.
Randi and Steve Lewis