Helen May (Harmon) Bankes, 76, of Berwick passed away on Friday, December 2, 2016 at her home, surrounded by family.
Born in Berwick on April 18, 1940, she was a daughter of the late Gertrude (LaWalt) and William A. Harmon, Jr. She was raised and educated in Berwick, and was employed at Consolidated Cigar in Berwick. In 1985, she and her husband, Donald P. Bankes, Sr., moved to the Wyalusing area and opened a sporting goods store called the Sugar Run Stop. After Donald’s death in 2002, she moved back to Berwick.
She was a former member of Grace Lutheran Church, Berwick, where she taught Sunday School and Sugar Run Presbyterian, where she was a member of the Women’s Circle. Helen liked coloring, reading and crocheting. Her greatest enjoyment was family time, especially with her grandchildren.
She will be greatly missed by her daughter, Donna Buchalter and husband Lawrence, Manalapan, NJ; son, Donald P. Bankes, Jr and wife Ella, Sugar Run; son-in-law, Robert Young, Berwick; cherished grandchildren, Martin Bilby, Brent Young, Alyssa Bankes, Adam Buchalter, Jacob Bankes, Zachary Bankes; adored great grandson, Daegan Bilby; brothers, William Harmon III and wife Dorothy; Gordon Harmon and wife Angela; Harry Harman and wife Kay; all of Berwick; sister whom she helped raise, Linda L. Holdren and husband Stewart, Berwick; and numerous nieces and nephews including, William Baker III and Barbara Baker.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Brenda Young; sister, Edith Harmon; brothers, John Harmon; Alvin Harmon and his wife Ann.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at Heller Funeral Home, LLC, 633 East Third Street, Nescopeck, with Chaplin Chris Dunlap officiating. Interment will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery, Berwick. Family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until the time of service.
Memorial contributions may be made to Geisinger Columbia Montour Hospice, 410 Glenn Avenue, Suite 200, Bloomsburg, PA 17815.
Helen’s family extends special thanks to her caregivers Kayla and Catherine, and her nurse, Cheryl.
Online messages of comfort can be sent to condolences@hellerfuneral.com