Fairport: Helen (MacEwan] Kunkle died peacefully in her sleep on January 17th, 2015 at age 98. Her long, long life was a rich tapestry woven with the help of the gentle hands of her beloved husband of 60 fabulous years, William O. Kunkle, who passed away in 2001 at age 82. lt was an overtly passionate 60-year love affair.
Helen was a complex and interesting person. She was smart as a whip, with a marvelous sense of humor, particularly when it came to puns. A self-taught gourmet cook, Helen also had the rare gift of perfect pitch, and played the piano “by ear” with no need for printed music. She was the ultimate uncomplaining optimist throughout her life, always focusing on the positive. Born at home in Cato, NY in the horse and buggy days, she died not far away in Fairport. NY in the spaceship days. What an amazingly large chunk of history she got to witness!
After Bill’s passing, she moved to Stuart, FL in 2006 and began a whole new life, with many great friends that she seemed to draw to her effortlessly. We who loved her knew that her “secret weapon” was her amazing musical talent, always willing to play the piano and sing for her friends, family, and neighbors. She was truly the star of the show, wherever she went, for her entire life. She did not endlessly mourn the many friends she outlived, she simply continued to make new friends, over and over again as the years passed.
Helen started a new career about 50 years ago, playing the piano and singing professionally in the Binghamton, NY area, becoming very well known and loved by her stage name, Helen Pryor. She continued to play for events in her retirement community and elsewhere until just last year, remembering without fail the thousands and thousands of songs in her repertoire. We children and grandchildren will always remember the battle every year to see who would get to sit next to her on the piano bench, pulled up to the table at Thanksgiving. It was always the seat of honor.
A crossword fanatic and a fast. voracious reader, Helen passed the time in her later years keeping her mind and her music sharp and beautiful to the very end. Helen was a remarkable and loving Mother and wife, full of kindness and surprisingly unsentimental words of wisdom. Since her greatest fear was outliving her children as she approached 100 years, we are happy to report that she is survived by all four of her children; Deette Sheffield (Sandy), who selflessly provided comfort and care for her for the last years of her life, Jere Kunkle (JoAnn), Jeffrey Kunkle (Marjorie), and Christopher Kunkle (Robin). We “survivors” have many children of our own: so many, many grandchildren and great grandchildren will be remembering their Grandmother as this impossibly old person with such a young and joyful heart. a still beautiful face, and snow white hair.
There will be no services or burial ceremony at this time. Helen will be laid to rest with her husband in Binghamton, NY, by her wishes. Donations in her name may be made to the following causes that she loved in Florida:
The Kane Center (Council on Aging of Martin County), 900 S.E. Salerno Road, Stuart, FL 34997, or, The Hope Rural School, 15929 SW 150th St., lndiantown, FL 34956.