Helen McAloon Pierce, 89, formerly of Darien and Stamford, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 22, 2018.
Born in Bo’ness, Scotland on Dec. 18, 1928 to the late Patrick and Elizabeth McCallum McAloon, she was married for 56 years to William K. Pierce Jr., who predeceased her in 2015.
In her 20s, Helen worked in the hospitality industry in Edinburgh, Scotland and London before immigrating to the United States as a governess for a family in Greenwich.
As a superb self-taught cook and expert in fine dining, Helen then held a long-time position with the CONDEC Corp. in Old Greenwich, as manager of the executive dining room. Upon leaving CONDEC, Helen worked as a personal chef and later resumed as nanny to several area families.
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— an obituary from Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home
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She truly adored children and brought great knowledge, affection, imagination, and energy to their care. Even in her later years, she could just as easily be found kicking a ball in the backyard with the children as reading them storybooks — a real life “Mrs. Doubtfire.” She loved, and was beloved by, the families she worked for and stayed in touch with many for decades.
Helen is survived by her children, Joseph McAloon Pierce and his wife Barbara of Fairfield, Elizabeth Pierce of Darien, and Emily Pierce Casinelli and her husband Jesse of Wilton, as well as her six grandchildren, Heather Giannone (Peter), Ryan Pierce (Christina), Dean Casinelli, Dylan Casinelli, Kelly Pierce, and Audrey Casinelli, and great grandchild, Imogen Pierce.
She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Margaret, Charlie, Peter, and Elizabeth McAloon, and her best friends of over 60 years, Mary Burns Pilcher and Mary Quinn. She was also predeceased by her brothers John and Charles McAloon.
Funeral services and interment will be held privately in Scotland at a later date.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Whittingham Center at Norwalk Hospital, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or the local ASPCA.
To leave online condolences, please visit the funeral home website.