Helen Callachan

Helen Pettersson Callachan of Old Saybrook passed away April 17 at Hartford Hospital.

Born on January 8, 1927 in Greenwich, she was the daughter of the late Helga and Erik Fritiof Pettersson. She married Joseph Callachan in 1951 and was devoted to him through his death in 2000.

She is survived by three daughters, Laurie Callachan Pilcher of Clinton, and Jane and Anne Callachan of Somerville, MA. She is also survived by two beloved grandchildren, Jim and Amanda Pilcher, two sons-in-law, Larry Pilcher and Eduardo Savid, a sister, Ester Pettersson Morrow and many nieces and nephews.

A graduate of Greenwich High School, Helen was a gifted pianist who studied with Jeanne Therrien and Joan Kretschmer. Later in life she studied organ with Lowell Lacey and served as the organist at Dingletown Community Church. For many years she was actively involved with the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra and served as President of its Ladies Auxiliary Guild.

A member of the Garden Club of Old Greenwich, Helen’s ever blooming garden was admired by many and her beautifully planted terrace was the location of many summer parties. An avid sportswoman, Helen and her late husband were members of Burning Tree Country Club. She enjoyed tennis, golf, skating and bowling. In 2005, she moved to Old Saybrook to be closer to family, but her love of her native Greenwich remained.

She wrote the following on a picture of Tod’s Point “My life has been spent enjoying the beauty of Greenwich, first as a child on the old Wertheim Estate in Cos Cob skating and cycling. Then three years were spent living at the Tod’s Point Mansion with my family. It has provided me with a lifetime of the happiest memories anyone could ever have.”

Helen was a gracious hostess and a devoted mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She will be missed for her kindness, generosity and love of life.

A memorial service will be held at First Church of Christ Congregational in Clinton later this spring. The family requests that donations in her memory be made to the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra, P.O. Box 35, Greenwich, CT 06836, First Church of Christ Congregational, 55 Church Rd., Clinton, CT 06413-2050 or the Greenwich Point Conservancy, P.O. Box 377, Greenwich, CT 06870.