Helen (Piatt) Mowery

    Helen Piatt Mowery of Newville, PA passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday evening, September 16, 2021, at the age of 91.  She was born on October 29,1929 in the lakeside town of L’Anse located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.  After the tragic deaths of her parents before the age of four, she and her two older sisters and older brother were raised by theirAunt Marie who instilled in them a love for music and literature.  She moved to Carlisle when she was 16 and after graduating from Carlisle High School in 1947, she moved to Newville to live with her sister and attended Dickinson College.  While there she met Donn Mowery and they were wed on November 11,1951.  They were married for 60 years until his death in 2011.  Helen was also preceded in death by her Aunt Marie, brother Hobart, sister Margaret, three-year-old daughter Kristine, and six- year-old granddaughter Hannah.  She is survived by her four sons, Joseph, James (Dutch), John (Teri), and Jay (Valerie), her grandchildren Daniel, Cameron, Robert, Lee, Laura, Ava, and Jacob, as well as her sister Lucille and numerous nieces and nephews.  

    Helen worked for Modjeski and Masters Engineering and later for the four family entertainment businesses that she and Donn owned in Cumberland County.  She was an accomplished pianist, organist and choir director at Big Spring Presbyterian Church from 1954 until 2019. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra from 1983-1989, and she enjoyed nature, music, art, literature, history, playing the piano, and travelling. Her travels took her to six continents, and she was especially fond of London, Finland, the Rocky Mountain West, and her beloved Michigan. Helen had an unquenchable curiosity, and although she suffered through many personal tragedies, she had an indomitable spirit that overcame them with grace and elegance.  She had many lifelong friends,and she will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her.A private service will be held at Prospect Hill Cemetery.

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