1937 – 2014

ROXBURY — Helen Marie Lang Deanis passed away on Tuesday, April 8, after a long, courageous battle with cancer, with her loving family lovingly by her side.

Helen was born the daughter of Arthur and Marie Lang of Andover on Aug. 27, 1937. She grew up in Andover and graduated as valedictorian from Andover High School in 1955, then graduated from the University of Maine in Orono in 1959 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. During her young years, she enjoyed all sports, music and games. During high school, she worked part-time at Andover Telephone Co., tending the switchboard and the store. She waitressed summers at the Barker in Oquossoc and York Beach.

Helen taught school in Andover and Mexico, retiring in 1988. As a child, she spent every summer at the Roxbury Pond camp, enjoying her family and friends. Helen and Gerald later converted the camp into their permanent home.

Helen took piano lessons and later gave lessons, as well as being the assistant organist at Andover Congregational Church, of which she was a member. She loved doing many things with her family: traveling, fishing trips, camping, etc. She was blessed with many dear friends, especially the Pond Purl Girls, with whom she shared many Tuesdays of fun-loving time (knitting or other projects). Additionally, she enjoyed playing cribbage each Wednesday at Ellis Pond Variety.

She married her high school sweetheart, Gerald Deanis, in Andover on June 21, 1958; he survives her, of Roxbury. Other survivors include one brother, Elliott Lang, of Hudson, N.H.; two daughters, Jodie Wilson and husband, Doug, of Bethel and Kimbalie Moore and husband, Clay, of Vidor, Texas; brother-in-law, Barry Deanis and wife, Cyndi, and family; sister-in-law, Phyllis Nicols and husband, Jim, and family, of Mexico; grandchildren, Danna Wilson of California, Dane Wilson of Indiana, Drew Wilson of Bethel, Lauren Brooke Moore and Christopher Moore of Texas, Jarod Deanis and wife, Tanya, of Lewiston, Randie-Marie Smogonovich and husband, James, of Kansas and Meliisa Lynn Deanis of Pennsylvania; along with four stepgrandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Helen was predeceased by her son, Randall Lee Deanis and wife, Leslie, and their two sons, Brock and Bronson, in 1985; a son, Gerald “Jerry” Sean Deanis, in 1994; a sister, Dorothy Lang, in 2007; a niece, Debbie Lang; and mother-in-law, Eleanor Ames, of Mexico.

Friends and relatives are invited to sign the online register and share memories with the family at www.meaderandson.com.