Sister Helen Young | Educator, 90

Sister Helen Young, 90, an educator in Philadelphia-area schools for more than 40 years, died of renal failure Thursday, June 2, at Assisi House, the retirement residence of the Sisters of St. Francis in Aston.

Sister Helen grew up as Bridget Helen Young in East Germantown. At 16, she entered the convent and completed her high school education there. She earned a bachelor's degree in music from Catholic University of America and a master's degree in theology from St. Bonaventure University.

In the 1960s and '70s, Sister Helen taught religion at Hallahan and Goretti High Schools in Philadelphia. While at Goretti, she also taught theology at what is now Neumann University.

Before that, she taught in primary grades at Our Lady of Consolation School in Philadelphia, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Morton, Resurrection School in Chester, and St. Ignatius School in Yardley. From 1988 to 1995, she taught at St. Mary of the Lakes School in Medford.

Sister Helen also taught in Hamilton, N.J., near Trenton, and in Chickasha, Okla., and she was a parish minister in Lebanon, Pa.

A gifted musician, she played piano and organ, directed choirs, and taught music in schools where she was assigned.

After her teaching career, Sister Helen was the liturgist and played piano and organ at Assisi House from 1995 until 2002.

She is survived by a cousin, Tom Haney.

A wake service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 7, followed by a viewing, at Assisi House, 600 Red Hill Rd. A Funeral Mass will be said there at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery, Aston.

Donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Rd., Aston, Pa. 19014.