Helen Janet Manning

  Helen Janet Manning

11/20/1931 to 8/26/2025

              Helen passed into her eternal life peacefully after a long struggle with her health.  Helen was born a child of ten siblings, during the Great Depression. Today she is survived by only two sisters, Joan Cheney of Brasher Falls, NY and Linda Perrin of Williston, Vt.  Her only son, Terry and his wife, Jackie, live in Bridgeport, New York.  Her granddaughter, Jillian, who she lovingly called “Sunshine” also lives in the Bridgeport area.

              Helen grew up as a farm girl in Moira, NY and never lost her love for outdoors and the sunshine.  Her husband, Gerald, and lifelong companion predeceased her in 1996.   She was an impassioned worker in all that she did from working on the farm to later day her work as one of the first women assembly line mechanics for General Electric and Black and Decker. Her passion for all she did followed her to Syracuse later in life, where she and her husband “Squeak” bought and remodeled a house in the Valley Section of Syracuse.

               Helen became an active volunteer for the Syracuse Police Department, The Kramer Drive Neighborhood Watch and was a fierce advocate for her neighborhood.  Her meetings in her garage were legendary for the folks who attended that included local politicians and police officers. She knew them all and they knew her.  Her police officers became her adopted sons and they adored her to this very day. She was never afraid to contact them, up to including the Mayor of Syracuse and now Country Executive, Ryan McMahon. Her tenacity earned her an invitation to the Mayoral Inauguration for Matt Driscoll. She was a proud independent, self made lady, who touched many people along the way.

              Calling hours will be Friday, August 29th:  5-7 PM @ Ballweg & Lunsford Funeral Home, 4612 South Salina St., Syracuse, NY 13205

              Calling hours will resume Saturday, August 30th @ 10:30 AM at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 2200 Valley Drive, Syracuse, NY, 13207.  Funeral Services will begin at 11AM. Interment will be immediately following at Onondaga Valley Cemetery, 2500 Valley Drive.

             Contributions in lieu of flowers to St. Pauls United Methodist Church, 2200 Valley Drive, Syracuse, NY 13207