Helen C. Gavry

Helen C. Gavry, 98, of Summit Avenue, Amsterdam, NY, passed away at St. Johnsville Nursing Home on November 28, 2021.

She was born in Waterbury, Connecticut on September 30th, 1923, the daughter of Joseph and Sophie Karys Stankevich. As a young girl, she relocated with her family to Amsterdam, where she attended local schools and graduated from Wilbur H. Lynch High School in 1940.

After graduation, Helen worked for a time at the Navy Depot in Glenville, NY, and later for more than 30 years at the John Hancock Life Insurance Company, in Amsterdam, retiring in 1985.

She was a lifelong member of St. Casimir’s Roman Catholic Church until its closing, and later at St. Mary’s Church. She was a member of St. Casimir’s Ladies’ Rosary Society as well as a participant in other church organizations.

She married Joseph P. Gavry on August 4, 1947. They celebrated 50 years together in 1997 before he predeceased her in 1998. She was also predeceased by her parents, and her sister, Genevieve Gutowski.
Helen was anavid fan of the New York Yankees and the New York Knicks. She excelled at pie baking and always enjoyed a friendly game of pinochle.

She is survived by her sons, Paul (Marie) Gavry of Amsterdam, and Christopher Gavry and his partner Pamela Ritter of Louisville, Kentucky, her grandchildren Evan and Emily Gavry (Shane Deka) of Amsterdam, two great- grandsons, Errol Bailey and Sol Deka, also of Amsterdam, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Helen was an Anatomical Gift Donor to the Albany Medical Center School of Medicine. A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 15th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church in Amsterdam.

Arrangements are by the Riley Mortuary, Inc. Memorial contributions can be made to a charity of one’s choice.

www.rileymortuaryinc.com