Obituary for Helen G. Glinos (Glennie)
Helen G. (Glennie) Glinos, 88, of Chelmsford, formerly of Andover, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 18, 2022 at Lowell General Hospital. She is the wife of Jim Glinos with whom she shared 67 years of marriage.
She grew up in Andover with her two sisters Ruth and Marion. She got her love of cooking from her mother Hazel and green thumb from her father George. She had fond memories of her Uncle Charlie’s milk & ice cream business (Glennie’s), great ice cream and the 50th anniversary gala. After high school she attended Russell Sage College for a year and spoke of pizza when the café served Shad Roe for dinner during the spring! She completed her undergraduate at Indiana University and used her degree in fashion design as a buyer for Jordan’s and Bonwit Teller. She was swept off her feet in 1955 by the love of her life Jim and the rest, as they say, is history (great, joyful history).
A Master's in Education from Northeastern followed as did a long career teaching in the Westford, then Chelmsford school system resulted (who among her students doesn’t remember the saltwater fish tanks?). Her gardens were a great passion and when the recent pandemic prevented her from teaching Bone Builders at the Chelmsford Senior Center, she instead invited the class to come over for garden tours. It’s safe to say that everyone she knew was the beneficiary of her having “popped” some interesting plant into their garden over the years. She was active in her church, singing in the choir and teaching Sunday school for many years. She loved music, everything from Butch Thompson and Miriam Makeba to Straight no Chaser (Go Hoosiers!). Along with singing, she played the clarinet, guitar, and recorder, but piano was her first love. She volunteered at the Open Pantry for many years and went out of her way to help those in need, embodying the Golden Rule and setting a high bar for her children and grandchildren!
She was a lifelong New England sports fan, including holding season tickets for the Celtics. Fishing was a love from early in her childhood and continued throughout her life. Whether flounder fishing in Mill Pond, hauling the family lobster pots, or trolling for bass & blues off Chatham, it was all great fun.
With her sister Marion and her sister Ruth's two children, Christine Petersen Wagner and Glenn Petersen, she insured that the Glennie Woodlot in North Andover would be preserved for all time, working with the town of North Andover and Greenbelt. Come visit & check out the Blue Heron Rookery this spring and enjoy the woodlot as she and her family did for so many years. As someone who greeted each day and everyone she met with a smile, she will be greatly missed.
In addition to her loving husband, Helen leaves her children; Stephen Glinos of Grantham, NH, Janet Deteran of Boyce, VA, and Scott Glinos and his wife Marcy of Andover, her grandchildren; Jeffrey Glinos of Golden Valley, AZ, Robert Deteran of Boyce, VA, Diana Glinos of Boston, and Russell Glinos of Andover and W. Dennis, and her sister Marion Olsen of Groveland.
Sadly, she is predeceased by her sister Ruth Peterson and her cousins, Bruce and Kent Donovan.
Her funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 26, 2022, at 11:00 am at Central Congregational Church, One Worthen St., CHELMSFORD. Interment will be held privately. Memorial donations may be made in Helen’s name to Central Congregational Church, Open Pantry of Lowell, or a charity of your choice.
She grew up in Andover with her two sisters Ruth and Marion. She got her love of cooking from her mother Hazel and green thumb from her father George. She had fond memories of her Uncle Charlie’s milk & ice cream business (Glennie’s), great ice cream and the 50th anniversary gala. After high school she attended Russell Sage College for a year and spoke of pizza when the café served Shad Roe for dinner during the spring! She completed her undergraduate at Indiana University and used her degree in fashion design as a buyer for Jordan’s and Bonwit Teller. She was swept off her feet in 1955 by the love of her life Jim and the rest, as they say, is history (great, joyful history).
A Master's in Education from Northeastern followed as did a long career teaching in the Westford, then Chelmsford school system resulted (who among her students doesn’t remember the saltwater fish tanks?). Her gardens were a great passion and when the recent pandemic prevented her from teaching Bone Builders at the Chelmsford Senior Center, she instead invited the class to come over for garden tours. It’s safe to say that everyone she knew was the beneficiary of her having “popped” some interesting plant into their garden over the years. She was active in her church, singing in the choir and teaching Sunday school for many years. She loved music, everything from Butch Thompson and Miriam Makeba to Straight no Chaser (Go Hoosiers!). Along with singing, she played the clarinet, guitar, and recorder, but piano was her first love. She volunteered at the Open Pantry for many years and went out of her way to help those in need, embodying the Golden Rule and setting a high bar for her children and grandchildren!
She was a lifelong New England sports fan, including holding season tickets for the Celtics. Fishing was a love from early in her childhood and continued throughout her life. Whether flounder fishing in Mill Pond, hauling the family lobster pots, or trolling for bass & blues off Chatham, it was all great fun.
With her sister Marion and her sister Ruth's two children, Christine Petersen Wagner and Glenn Petersen, she insured that the Glennie Woodlot in North Andover would be preserved for all time, working with the town of North Andover and Greenbelt. Come visit & check out the Blue Heron Rookery this spring and enjoy the woodlot as she and her family did for so many years. As someone who greeted each day and everyone she met with a smile, she will be greatly missed.
In addition to her loving husband, Helen leaves her children; Stephen Glinos of Grantham, NH, Janet Deteran of Boyce, VA, and Scott Glinos and his wife Marcy of Andover, her grandchildren; Jeffrey Glinos of Golden Valley, AZ, Robert Deteran of Boyce, VA, Diana Glinos of Boston, and Russell Glinos of Andover and W. Dennis, and her sister Marion Olsen of Groveland.
Sadly, she is predeceased by her sister Ruth Peterson and her cousins, Bruce and Kent Donovan.
Her funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 26, 2022, at 11:00 am at Central Congregational Church, One Worthen St., CHELMSFORD. Interment will be held privately. Memorial donations may be made in Helen’s name to Central Congregational Church, Open Pantry of Lowell, or a charity of your choice.