Helen W. Acebal

December 20, 1928 - October 12, 2016

Helen Welch Acebal of Cortlandt Manor, NY passed away on October 12th 2016, at the age of 87. Helen was born December 20, 1928 in Peekskill NY to Susan Clune and John Welch. In 1930, when she was two years old, her father succumbed to pneumonia and was called to heaven. At the age of four, her mother Susan remarried John F King Sr. Susan and John King Sr. had two children, John and Ida. The family resided in Peekskill. Helen graduated from Peekskill High School and went on to earn a Bachelors degree from The University of Oneonta, her Masters in Education from University of Connecticut and her Doctorate at Fairfield University. She pursued a career in education; taught elementary education in Cobelskill, NY, and spent the majority of her 30 year teaching career in Yorktown Schools. Helen loved teaching and her lessons were provided both in and out of the classroom. On September 29, 1963, she married Ronald Bennett Acebal. They had five children Ronald in 1964 and then Haysha, Christopher, Joy and Kim in 1966. They later divorced. In addition to raising five children, Helen taught outside the classroom, made a pilgrimage to the Holy Lands, served as an ordained Eucharistic minister at Holy Spirt Church, Cortlandt Manor, volunteered with Community Theater, and loved attending Broadway musicals. She is survived by her five children, Ron (Dawn) Acebal, of Shrewsbury, NJ, Haysha of Yonkers, NY, Christopher of Ossining, NY, Joy of White Plains, NY and Kim(Michael) Guzzo of Cortlandt Manor, NY, her five grandchildren, Peter, Thomas and Lisa Guzzo, Amanda and Alexander Acebal, her sister, Ida ( Robert) Simmonds, of Peachtree, GA and many nieces and nephews. A mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday October 17, 2016 at 11:30 AM, Holy Spirit Church, Cortlandt Manor, followed by interment at Assumption Cemetery. Visiting at Dorsey – Carlone Funeral Home, 1100 Cortlandt St. Peekskill, NY on Sunday 4 – 7 PM.