Helen L. (Snelbecker) Weigel

Helen L. Weigel

DOVER – Helen L. Weigel, 89, entered into rest on Monday morning, December 19, 2022, at Autumn House West, York, PA.  She was the wife of the late Arthur J. Weigel, Jr.

Born August 7, 1933, in Dover, Helen was a daughter of the late William S. and Anna Mae (Elicker) Snelbecker.

 
She is survived by a son, Gary Lee Weigel and wife, Nancy of West Chester; daughter, Sherry Lee Baldwin and husband, Darrell of Dover; four grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; two sisters, Phyllis Bryant of Rochester, NY, and Deborah Latchaw of Dover; and two brothers, Leroy Snelbecker of York and Robert Snelbecker of Dover.  In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Doris Andrews; a brother, Glenn Snelbecker; sisters-in-law, Lynne Snelbecker, Helen Gordon, Ethel Weigel, and Jan Snelbecker; and brothers-in-law, Garrie Andrews and Dale Gordon.

Helen graduated from Dover High School in 1951.  In high school, she participated in track, basketball, and cheerleading.  Helen broke the York County Scholastic track record for the 50-yard dash in 1947 at age 13 and was a member of the 1949 Girls York County Track Championship team.  She served as Editor-in-chief of the Newsette her senior year and as the class Vice-President her junior and senior years.  With her many activities, as a senior Helen was voted the busiest girl.

Starting in 1945, Helen along with her grandmother Minnie, mother Anna, and eventually daughter Sherry, competed in the York Fair contests "Canned or dried products" for decades. Helen won multiple ribbons each year for her Butters, Honey Spreads, and Jellies. An article in the York Dispatch, September 7, 2012, by Larry Hicks, reports that Helen won 385 ribbons over six decades.

She was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church and officer of the Live Wire Class in the late 1950s.

She was an avid golfer and worked as a waitress at Grandview Golf Course.

Helen loved to play games and would often have her friends over to play dominoes for hours.

Helen loved to sew and created costumes for the Greater Dover Bi-Centennial in 1964 and York’s 250th Anniversary in 1999.

Helen was a baker for Spangler's Grocery in Weigelstown prior to opening her own business.  Helen was the owner and operator of the consignment shop, “House of Helen,” for over 30 years.

After Helen's mother moved into the Lutheran Home Personal Care unit in 2000, Helen and her sister Doris started collecting stuffed animals to give to the residents.  This was a project that eventually expanded to multiple extended care facilities in York and had dozens of "elves" helping to distribute up to 1000 stuffed animals each Christmas for 15 years.

Helen considered her life to be blessed.  She felt that she had accomplished much with only a high school education.  She treasured her family and friends, and her life was very full.
 
Following cremation, relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Helen’s memorial service at 1:30 p.m. and the visitation from 1 to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 8, 2023 at Calvary Lutheran Church, 9 N. Main St. Dover.  Burial will be private in Shiloh Cemetery.  Officiating will be her pastor, the Rev. Abigail Leese.  Emig Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Inc., Dover is serving her family.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Autumn House West and Grane Hospice for Helen’s wonderful care.

Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Lutheran Church, Dover, PA, or the Alzheimer’s Association www.alz.org/centralnewyork/donate/tribute_gifts.
 

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