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Helen N. Renner, 93

November 15, 2008

POWNAL, Vt. — Helen Norwood Renner, 93, of Ladd Road, died on Saturday morning, Nov. 15, at Crescent Manor Care Center in Bennington following a long illness. She was a longtime civic activist, serving Pownal in many capacities.

Born in Williamstown, Mass., on Oct. 24, 1915, daughter of William N. and Sophie Norwood Thompson, she moved with her family as a young child to her mother's childhood home on Ladd Road. She received her education in Williamstown and was a 1933 graduate of the former Williamstown High School. She graduated from Syracuse (N.Y.) University in 1937 with a degree in arts and library science. She returned to Pownal in 1947.

Mrs. Renner worked as a post office clerk and later was librarian at the Solomon Wright Library. She also was a reporter for the North Adams (Mass.) Transcript for many years. She had first been employed as a librarian at Syracuse after graduating, and later at Kent State University in Ohio and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y.

She served as town clerk for two terms and volunteered for many years with several organizations. She was a poll clerk in Pownal and collected food for the Pownal Food Pantry. She was a member of the Pownal Fire Protective Association Auxiliary and president of the Vermont State Firefighters Auxiliary. In 2000, she received a certificate of appreciation from the secretary of state of Vermont in recognition of her many years of services to Pownal and to the state.

Mrs. Renner loved horses and dogs, raising collies for many years, and was an avid gardener. She was a communicant of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in North Pownal.

She and her husband, George M. Renner, were married on April 17, 1943, in Monroe, La.

Besides her husband of 65 years, she leaves her five godchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.

FUNERAL NOTICE — A prayer service will be held on Thursday afternoon, Nov. 20, at 1:15 at Mahar and Son Funeral Home in Bennington followed by a Mass of Resurrection at 2 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in North Pownal. Interment will follow in the family lot in Oak Hill Cemetery in Pownal. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Solomon Wright Library, Pownal Rescue Squad, or the Pownal Fire Department, through the funeral home, 628 Main St., Bennington, VT 05201. Guestbook condolences may be made at www.maharandsonfuneralhome.net.

Recollections & Sympathy For the Family Post Comment

The passing of Helen Renner is a sad and sullen event indeed. For a lady who had no children, she was a person who had them clamouring about, willing to help them, direct them, challenge them, engage them, motivate them and above all,love them. Helen had the strength of will to turn a wild thing be it four legged or two, into a respectful creature working in partnership. Helen was feisty, honest, hard-working and if she liked you, it was like walking with the sunshine on your face. Helen Renner was her own person, she had no time to play up to people or any inclination to do so. She had no use for falseness, no use for indecisiveness. Our good lady was accepting despite our flaws, she was kind and bigger than her small frame would lead you to believe. Our good lady made the rounds to the sick, the elderly and the infirm delivering day olds to her community. She did so well into her eighties where she was sometimes delivering to folks younger than her! Helen Renner was guardian of her community with her "boyfriend" as she called her husband of 65 years, George Renner by her side. I am blessed to have known such a wonderful, good lady. Thank You, Victoria Lynne Blakeman
from: Victoria Lynne Blakeman	on: 11-24-2008

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