Helena Linn: A Gracious Woman Who Always Hoped for the Best
The Newfoundland world was saddened to learn of the passing of Helena Linn, one of our oldest honorary members. Our world has lost a devoted woman whose contributions to our breed are unending.
This memorial, written by Helena’s sister, Mary Martens, appeared in the Star Gazette, Elmira, New York:
Helena Linn died at the age of 85 on September 7, 2001. She was born October 30, 1915, in the Russian Ukraine.The family moved often; Helena attended school in four countries, including three Canadian provinces, becoming a citizen of Russia, then Canada and the United States. Helena was a registered nurse. She moved to Manhattan and was taking courses in dietetics at Columbia University when she met Willis Linn of Glenora, New York. |
Isabel Kurth, Helena Linn and Di Sellers at the 1989 National Specialty in Denver, Colorado. |
After a whirlwind ten-week courtship, they married and moved to Edenglen, the Linns’ family estate on the shores of Seneca Lake (in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State).
Together, they established a Newfoundland kennel, Edenglen, whose dogs became international legends. One fourth of the Newfoundlands in the ring at Westminster in the late 1960s carried the Edenglen prefix. The dog world found its way to Edenglen to share Helena’s and Bill’s hospitality and expertise. Their guests often left with a selection of cards exquisitely decorated by Helena. Throughout their travels, especially to the places where Helena had lived, she bore herself with the stately grace and love of people that earned her the affectionate title “Duchess of Edenglen.” Helena was predeceased by her husband, Willis Linn. She will be loved and missed by her two sisters, Mary Martens and Neta Gallagher; and one brother Louise Martens from Canada, one niece and several nephews. A memorial service will take place in late October. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Falk Cancer Center in Elmira, New York and to the Dundee Ambulance Association. |
