Berlin – Helen Lamphier Hyatt, 95, entered into eternal rest after a brief illness, on Wednesday, March 25, 2009, at the Village at Fillmore Pond in Bennington, VT, with her niece Tena at her side. Helen was sure to have been met by her husband Oliver who died on April 21, 2002, after having been married for 62 years. Born in Berlin, NY, on December 17, 1913, she was the daughter of the late Rowlan and Myra Lamphier. Mrs. Hyatt lived in the Berlin and Cherry Plain area all her life. She was a graduate of Berlin High School and New Paltz Normal School where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree and became a teacher and taught for 40 years. She first taught in rural one room schools and then at the Petersburgh Village School. She ended her career teaching in the Berlin CSD in Stephentown, NY.
Mrs. Hyatt and her husband farmed on Cherry Plain Hill for many years, and then they sold real estate for the United Farm Agency for 20 years. Helen was a member of the Berlin Baptist Church for 70 years and the Taconic Valley, Stephentown and Scarsdale Historical Societies. She was a member of the Election Board Dist. 2 and served as Secretary for the Berlin Youth Commission for several years. The Hyatts enjoyed traveling throughout the US as well as other countries.
She was pre-deceased by her sister, Sarah Lamphier Cure. Survivors include many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews. Also during the Hyatts’ farming days, they had many young men work on the farm during the summer. Four of these “Farm Boys” have stayed very close to Helen over the years and include John Barnett of Washington, DC, Bob Godfrey of Jupiter, FL, Mike Kernan of Maryville, TN, and Andy Oliver of Lansing, NY.
A funeral service was held on Monday, March 30, at 11 am at the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home, 66 Armsby Road, Petersburgh, NY, followed by interment at the Berlin Community Cemetery. Friends and relatives called on Sunday evening from 4 to 7 pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Berlin Volunteer Fire Department, c/o the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home.