A retired employee of the Newburgh Enlarged City School District passed away on Thursday. She was one month short of her 102nd birthday.
Helen V. Mennerich, age 101 of the Town of Newburgh, was a school lunch manager for the school district. She originally managed the cafeteria at Gardnertown School before Fostertown and Balmville Schools were added to her responsibilities.
Mennerich led an active life. She was born on September 7, 1920. After growing up on a farm near Oneonta, she attended SUNY Delhi and got married in 1941. She was a Den Mother for the Cub Scouts, longtime treasurer of the United Methodist Church, treasurer of the United Methodist Women, and Past President and treasurer of American Legion Post 1420 Ladies Auxiliary.
She was married to her husband, Arthur Mennerich, for 53 years. He died in 1994 at the age of 73.
When Mennerich was born, Woodrow Wilson was the United States President. He was the 28th President. Joe Biden is currently the 46th President.
To put her age into perspective, she was 48 years old when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. She was 54 years old when the Vietnam War ended. She was already a senior citizen when Diet Coke first came out in 1982.
Mennerich leaves behind a large family of three sons, many grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
