OVERTON, Helen Kennis- age 81, of Woodbury, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 21, 2010 at Saint Mary's Hospital following a battle with cancer. She was preceded in death by her husband, William R. Overton: her parents, Anna and Albert Kennis and her brother Edward J. Kennis. After raising their family in Middlebury, the Overtons moved to Woodbury in the late 1980s. Mrs. Overton was a communicant of Saint Teresa's Church in Woodbury. She is an alumna of Waterbury Catholic High School and then went on to earn her BS in Nursing from the University of Connecticut, Storrs. She later received a Masters in Public Health from Central Connecticut Teachers College. She worked for many years as a Public Health Nurse in Waterbury and retired as a Nurse Instructor for the city of Naugatuck School Department.
Mrs. Overton leaves behind three daughters, a son and two sons-in-law: Elizabeth Ann Overton of Waterbury, Lynn and Wilson Beamer of Knoxville, TN, Nancy and Philip Morton of Franklin MA, and William Brian Overton of Southington, CT. One of the great joys of her life were her five grandchildren with whom she celebrated her 81st birthday on October 5th: Blake P. Macary, Zachary G. Beamer, Spencer W. Beamer, Hannah E. Morton, and Grace L. Morton. Mrs. Overton also leaves behind several nieces and nephews.

Memorials: The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Harold Leever Cancer Center, 1075 Chase Parkway Waterbury, CT 06708 in their mother's name.

Cemetery: Lake Elise Cemetery

Location: Munson-Lovetere Woodbury

Funeral: St. Teresa's Church

Services: A funeral mass will be celebrated in her honor at Saint Teresa's Catholic Church at 10 AM on Tuesday, October 26th. Burial will take place in Lake Elise Cemetery in Middlebury after the mass.

Visitation: The family will receive friends at the Munson Lovetere Funeral Home, 2 School Street in Woodbury on Monday, October 25th from 2-4 and from 6-8 PM.