Helena Butler Mccue

We are broken- hearted to announce the passing of our treasure of a mother, Helena Butler McCue on June 30, 2022. Born in Worcester, MA on February 6, 1921, she later graduated Magna Cum Laude from the College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee. She followed her passion becoming a buyer for Filenes department store in NYC with an office on Broadway. When she met our dad, Fred E Strong, she moved to Rochester where she would spend the rest of her days. She taught school in the parochial and public school system there and was nominated as Teacher of the Year. But we feel she is best known for outfitting every child on her street with a hand- made sweater or smocked dress (or both) and every family with many plates of her famous blueberry muffins. She was most proud of achieving her goal of living on her own at the age of 101 and remained stylish and beautiful till the end. She was predeceased by our Dad Fred Elmer Strong in 1970 and then later by her second husband Thomas McCue in 1997. She leaves behind three children, Annellen Greene (husband John) of Portsmouth NH, Frederic Strong (wife Sharon) of Kennebunkport ME and Anthony Strong of Los Osos, CA. Four grandchildren, Erika Vyce, Anthony Balakier, Matt Strong, and Jazz Strong; and seven great grandchildren, Cameron, Harlow, Remy, Ellie, Delia, Harrison and Sam. A long- time communicant of St Mary's Church, she loved God, her family, gardening and fashion. A memorial mass will be scheduled at a later date. "Sail on Silver Girl, Sail on by, Your time has come to shine, all your dreams are on their way. See how they shine. If you need a friend, I'm sailing right behind....."