Helen Cronin

Helen Kevan Cronin has won her wings and, her work here done, taken her leave. She takes with her an infectious smile, a delightfully sardonic wit, and a bottomless wellspring of generosity, strength, love, and support, that her friends and family will sorely miss. She did, however, leave with us countless memories, all brimming with warmth, laughter, and love.

Helen is survived by her husband Tom Cronin, with whom she shared very close to 40 years of marriage; her loving sister Priscilla Ricketson; her daughter and best friend, Angela Beck, who with her husband, John Beck, gave Helen a band of four raucous, rollicking grandchildren, Joseph, William, Elliot, and Autumn, who all absolutely adored their Nana.

Truly, to know Helen was to love her. Born on February 1st, 1952 to Ranzy R Holloway and Ruth Ann Holloway, she went on to work as a dispatcher for the Concord Police Department, and later as a technician for the Concord Telephone Company. Helen loved to travel, especially to places where she could experience the beauty of the natural world. She brought this love of nature home, too, where she would often spend her time with her hands in the soil, gardening and growing beautiful things. Her favorite thing in the world, though, was spoiling her grandchildren absolutely rotten, showering them with attention and affection, sewing costumes for them, and planning birthday parties. A close second would be spoiling her “fur babies” (of which she had many!) with similar attention.

Visitation will be held at Hartsell Funeral Home in Concord, NC on Wednesday, January 18th between the hours 6:00pm and 7:30pm. Her memorial service, also at Hartsell Funeral Home, will begin at 11:00am on Thursday, January 19th. We hope you will join us, not so much to grieve her death, but to celebrate how she lead such a joyous life. Helen lived it with as much gusto as she could muster. Her strength, courage, warmth, and support will be missed.

In lieu of flowers, we encourage you to make a donation to Faithful Friends Animal Sanctuary, 220 Grace Church Rd., Salisbury, NC 28147, to further a cause that was close to Helen’s heart.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Concord is serving the Cronin family.