Helen Schell

Helen Schell

WRIGHT — Helen L. Schell was a strong woman who loved her family and faith. She died on Thursday, July 12, 2018. She was 87.

“Mom was fantastic,” said her son, Wayne Schell. “She worked and she took care of sister and myself and my brother Robbie … .”

Mrs. Schell was born in Yonkers on Feb. 8, 1931, to German immigrants, Mary (née Schoeber) Fox and Louis Fox, a metal fabricator with a penchant for ornamental items like chandeliers, which he made by hand, said her son. When Mrs. Schell was 15, she and her family moved to Schoharie County, where they owned a farm and opened a boarding house on Route 443 called Maplebrook Farms.

She was distraught to leave the city, vowing never to play the piano again after she was supposed to play at Carnegie Hall, said her son, but she learned to adapt.

“She wanted to be a city girl; she didn’t want to be a country girl … ,” explained her son. “Once she got here for a while, she adjusted.”

Her parents ran the boarding house for about 30 years, where Mrs. Fox, an “unbelievable cook,” prepared food over a big cast-iron stove, insisting everyone eat dinner together and serving her famous apple strudel, said Mr. Schell.

Mrs. Schell graduated from Schoharie High School, and shortly after married her high school sweetheart, Grant Schell. The two were introduced by his sister and her close friend, June Bohl. She and her sister-in-law remained best friends for 71 years, only ending in Mrs. Bohl’s death several months ago.

Mr. and Mrs. Schell wed on April 8, 1950 and were happily married until Mr. Schell’s death 15 years ago. Although Mrs. Schell took on other jobs — first as a secretary for the New York State Soil and Water Conservation — she kept the books for Mr. Schell’s family contracting business, Schell Contractors, including ordering materials for building homes. The two were in the business for over 40 years.

At the same time, Mrs. Schell also worked a number of jobs for her in-laws, June and Edward Bohl, who owned the Bumble Bee Restaurant in Guilderland, and she also worked briefly at Buyers’ Mart, also in Guilderland.

Mr. Schell served as town supervisor of Wright from 1981 to 1986. Mrs. Schell worked on the books for the town as well during that time, said her son.

While working, Mrs. Schell was raising her three children. She stressed to them the importance of family, faith, and education.

“She was always there for what we needed,” said her son.

He recalled how, when his father was unavailable, his mother took him with her to see the film, “The Wizard of Oz.”

“Whenever ‘The Wizard of Oz’ was on, we’d all sit down and watch it,” said Mr. Schell, of the family television tradition.

A member of the Gallupville United Methodist Church, Mrs. Schell taught her children to believe in God but to practice religion in their own way. She also adored her six grandchildren, and liked knitting and doing word puzzles.

She was a great cook, passing down her mother’s recipe for strudel to the other women in the family, and serving numerous dishes.

When her children were younger, an incident occurred changing Mrs. Schell’s life but also proving her strength. Her husband raised horses at their home on Schell Road. While her husband and son were handling a horse, she grabbed its rope, and her fingers became tangled; one finger on one hand and three on her other were taken off. While her hands were bandaged, she let her daughter take on the cooking, but afterwards went right back to work.

“It wasn’t long before she was back in action again,” said her son.

Later in life, after her husband died, she would take on tasks her husband had done like mowing the lawn, said her son.

“She was just so strong,” he said.

****

Mrs. Schell is survived by her children, Pam L. Murphy of Berne; Wayne G. Schell and his wife, Ruey, of Schoharie; and Robbie Schell and his wife, Sawako, of Short Hills, New Jersey; her grandchildren, Shelby A. Murphy; Tyler L. Schell; Brittany M. Schell; Tron Y. Schell; Aeon Schell; and Psylon Schell; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Her husband, Grant Schell, died before her; as did her brother, Rudy Fox.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 16, at Woodlawn Cemetery on Route 443 in Berne, with Pastor Andrea Holroyd officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to Scho-Wright Ambulance Service, Post Office Box 325, Schoharie, NY 12157; or to the Gallupville Fire Department, Post Office Box 15, Gallupville, NY 12073.  Condolences may be left at www.langanfuneralhome.com.

— H. Rose Schneider

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