Helen M. Hartzell

Helen Mae Minnick Hartzell, formerly of Carlisle, died on the evening of October 18, 2011 at her home in Palm Springs, CA. She was 81.

Helen was born on June 13, 1930 in Norristown. The daughter of the late George M. and Florence C. Minnick, Helen moved to Carlisle in 1934. Helen graduated Carlisle High School in 1948, after which she attended Dickenson College. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi. She married the late William M. Hartzell of Carlisle in 1953. Helen volunteered for a number of local causes, assisted various civic groups, and was instrumental in organizing the first blood donation drives for the former Carlisle Hospital. She moved to Palm Springs, California in 2004.

She is survived by her sister Nancy Stanton of Philadelphia, PA, and her sons Scott L. Hartzell of Chambersburg, PA; Mark W. Hartzell of Chattanooga, TN; and Andrew K. Hartzell of Costa Mesa, CA. She is also survived by three grandchildren: Lauren, Kevin and Jonathan Hartzell.

A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, on the Square in Carlisle at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday November 5, 2011.

The family welcomes donations in lieu of flowers to either St. Paul in the Desert Episcopal Church in Palm Springs (125 W. El Alameda, Palm Springs, CA 92262) or the Franklin County Therapeutic Riding Center (181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, PA 17202).