Helen Louise Brannon

Helen Louise Brannon (Bollinger) died Saturday, December 28, 2024. She was 96. Helen was born April 8, 1928 in Evansville, Indiana and was the daughter of the late Eugene Ernest Bollinger and Mary Louise (Kohus) Bollinger. Helen grew up in Evansville with her five sisters on Weinback Avenue where there was much merriment. She attended Bosse High School where she was chosen president of her senior class. Following graduation, she attended Evansville College (now the University of Evansville) where she was a member of the Gamma Epsilon Sigma Sorority. She graduated in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in business science. In 1950 she married Donald L. Brannon, who predeceased her in 2011. She was the mother of ten children. She had her first four children in Evansville IN. In 1956, she boarded a plane to Maryland with two daughters and two sons, all under five years of age, while pregnant with her third daughter, to join her husband who was working for Westinghouse. The couple had five additional children in Glen Burnie where she cultivated life-long friendships and enjoyed living on the Chesapeake Bay. She and her husband would then retire in 1985 to the Eastern Shore. She and her sisters (Margie, Ann, Mary and Nancy) all learned to play bridge, which Helen loved and played throughout her life. She became a skilled master at the game, earning many master points and was a well regarded and sought after bridge partner. She played in many tournaments throughout the Eastern Shore. She was a substitute teacher at Point Pleasant Elementary School in Glen Burnie. She also volunteered at Estate Treasures, a thrift shop in Chester whose proceeds went to hospice. She loved dancing, gardening and birdwatching, especially cardinals and hummingbirds. She was an excellent swimmer and passed that skill to all her children. She loved celebrating and decorating for all the holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas. She loved traveling with her husband, family, and close friends. She particularly enjoyed many trips to Cape Cod, MA and family trips to Ocean City and Bethany Beach. Her most cherished memories were spent with her children and grandchildren. She had a deep faith and was a regular parishioner at St. Christophers Catholic Church on the Eastern Shore. In addition to her husband, she is predeceased by her sister Margaret who died at age six, and her sisters Margie Schellhase, Ann Rohrbach, and Nancy Wilson. She is survived by her children Patrick Brannon (Debbie); Barbara Ahalt; Steven Brannon (Denise); Peggy Hankins; Diane Listorti (Mike); Melissa Brannon; David Brannon (Cherie); Kevin Brannon (Ellen); Bruce Brannon (Michelle); and Bianca Horney (Brian). She is also survived by her grandchildren: Cyrus, Blake, Katie, Sean, Ryan, Brandon, Ashleigh, Rochelle, Joshua, Bradly, McKenna, Grayson, Gabrielle, Levi, Max, Tyler, Abigail, and Cole. She leaves six great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her sister Mary Hurt. The family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, 106 Shamrock Rd, Chester MD 21619. A church service will be held on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 10:00 AM at St. Christopher’s Catholic Church, 1861 Harbor Drive, Chester MD. Interment will follow the service at Eastern Shore Veteran’s Cemetery, Hurlock. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Compass Regional Hospice, 160 Coursevall Dr., Centreville MD 21617.

Helen Louise Brannon

April 8, 1928 - December 28, 2024