Mary Helena Wortham

Mary Helena Wortham (nee Shelley)

Helena Wortham, 91, peacefully went home to be with the Lord on September 29, 2015.

Born April 21, 1924 in Murray City, Ohio to Benjamin and Hazel Shelley, she was a long time Akron area resident. Helena attended Eastern Nazarene College, majoring in music. She enjoyed playing the piano and accordion, spending time with her grandchildren, walking, shopping, McDonalds hamburgers, and loved chatting about life. Helena was a proud member of the Kenmore Church of The Nazarene for 77 years. She cherished going to church and having Sunday dinner with her children and grandchildren, rarely missing a Sunday.

Helena was the most loving and sweet wife, mother and grandmother. Family was her world.

Preceded in death by her husband, James; parents; and brothers, John and Richard Shelley; she is survived by her devoted daughters, Sharon (Steve) Jackson and their children, Sara (Daniel) Dijak and Ben Jackson, Marilyn (Lew) Snodgrass and Deborah (David) Smith and their children, Tammy (Mathew) Savage and Megan Smith (fiance' Christian Morlan); loving son, James "Jimmy" Wortham; brother, Henry Shelley; many nieces and nephews.

Helena's family would like to thank all of the staff at Pleasantview Nursing Home during her stay and a special thank you to the staff at Barberton Summa Hospital Palliative Care and CCU units for their amazing care and compassion. A special heartfelt thanks to Diana Staten.

Services will be held 1 p.m. SATURDAY at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd., with Rev. Terry Passmore officiating. Interment at Greenlawn Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home Saturday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Kenmore Church of The Nazarene, 2025 12th St. SW, Akron, Ohio 44314. (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)