Helen Shank

Helen Burton Good Shank, age 102, of Albion, NY and formerly of Erie died peacefully on Tuesday June 30, 2015 in Medina, NY. She was born in Erie on February 6, 1913, the daughter of the late Harry and Emma Sampson Burton.

She was a graduate of Academy High School and had attended the University of Pittsburgh and Syracuse University.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and was very involved with the Church Women’s Society. She was a member of the Erie Yacht Club Garden Club and Auxiliary, and volunteered as a Republican campaign manager for Wendell Good, when he served as a State Legislator for several terms. She was a former board member of Stairways and the Florence Crittendon Home. She was an active volunteer for the American Cancer Society for many years. Years ago, she was a Girl Scout leader and also sewed costumes for the musical productions performed by the children’s choir of her church.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Attorney Wendell R. Good; her second husband, Harold W. Shank; her son Charles W. Good II; her brother Robert M. Burton; her sister Edith Burton Gill, plus five sisters-in-law, Mildred Good Livingston, Eleanor Good Baumann, Janice Good Brown, Josephine Shrigley Good and Marion Shank MacDonald; four brothers-in-law, Robert L. Livingston, Louis Baumann, Ernest Brown, and Virgil A. Good; nephew, Robert Livingston, Jr., and niece, Marjorie Livingston Worsham.

Helen is survived by a daughter Judith Good Tucker and her husband Richard L. of Albion, NY. She was the loving grandmother of three granddaughters, Wendy L. Gee and her husband Richard of North Charleston, SC; Debi A. Kusmierczak and her husband James of Rome, NY and Catherine A. (Katy) Kraus and her husband Rolf of Germany and two grandsons, Timothy R. Tucker and his friend Audrey Wildschutz of Medina, NY and Cmdr. Jonathan T. Good and his wife Capt. Ande Bergmann both serving in the U.S. Navy, presently in the Washington D.C. area. She was blessed with four great- grandsons, Kenneth J. Boyer of Albion, NY and Matthew J. Kusmierczak of Rome, NY and Max and Leo Kraus of Germany and three great-granddaughters, Ashley E. Boyer of Albion, NY and Hannah M. Kusmierczak of Rome, NY and Lili Kraus of Germany. Her special blessing was her great-great granddaughter, Danielle M. Wyant of Albion, NY, who became the fifth generation of her family. Also surviving are two nephews, Dr. James Gill and his wife Catherine of Santa Cruz, CA and Richard L. Baumann and his wife Sally of Sarasota, FL; and one niece, Barbara James and her husband, Dr. Edgar E. James of Largo, FL plus several great nieces and nephews and several great-great nieces and nephews.

Helen will be remembered for her knitting skills and creating many items for her family and charitable organizations. Over the years, she donated hundreds of knitted baby blankets and lap blankets to hospitals and nursing homes. She had a passion for gardening and flowers, and loved to exchange plants with family and friends. Her grandchildren will always remember her sand tart cookies in special shapes at Christmas time. She was always surrounded by books and loved to read to her family. With the gift of perfect vision after cataract surgery some years ago, she was still reading to her family right up to the end of her life.

Friends are invited to the First United Methodist Church, 707 Sassafras St., Erie, on Saturday, July 11 for calling hours from 10 to 11 a.m. and a celebration of her life service at 11:00 a.m. followed by a lunch in the church dining room. The family will have a private burial the next day, Sunday, July 12 at Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Helen’s family wishes to thank the wonderful staff of Cloverhill Adult Residence in Albion, NY for their wonderful care and compassion during the last 5 years. They also thank the outreach team at the Hoag Library for supplying her with reading materials each month.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 707 Sassafras St, Erie, PA 16501. Arrangements entrusted to Burton Funeral Home and Crematory, 602 W. 10th St.