Helyn K Hedeman

Helyn (Kay) Hedeman, 81, a resident of St. Augustine, Florida since 1995, passed away peacefully at the Community Hospice Bailey Family Center for Caring the morning of January 16, 2022. Born in Schenectady, New York in 1940 to Helen and Abner Lomasney, Helyn was the oldest of three children, including her sister Nan and her brother Marty. Helyn earned her Bachelor’s Degree at SUNY New Paltz and her Master’s Degree from the College of Saint Rose and went on to be a teacher and speech therapist. She married her beloved husband, Walter Hedeman in 1968 and they had three sons, Walter, Keith and John. Prior to moving to Florida, Helyn and Walter lived in Wappingers Falls, New York where they raised their family. Upon retiring, Walter and Helyn moved to St. Augustine, Florida, which quickly became their new home. Always one to make friends, Helyn was soon surrounded by new friends she made in Florida while remaining in contact with friends from New York until her death. She was known for her quick wit, her infectious smile, and her kind and compassionate spirit. Her kindness and caring touched many people, going out of her way to help others, from stopping by a sick friends house to drop off food to donating her time and money, she was always thinking of others. One of her favorite ways to donate her time was volunteering to assist teaching others to learn to read at an English as a Second Language Program in St. Augustine. Always an avid reader, Helyn was a member of book clubs in both New York and St. Augustine where she made many friends that she cherished. Because of her love of books and teaching others to read, her family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Room to Read in her name. Her beloved husband, Walter, and their son John, predeceased her. She is survived by her sons Walter and Keith, her daughter-in-law Susan and her granddaughter Helyna. Services will be held both in Florida and New York. The Florida services will be at St. Johns Family Funeral Home in St. Augustine on Saturday, January 22 from 10 a.m. to noon and the New York services will be at Copeland Funeral Home in New Paltz, the date and time for the New York services are pending. She will be missed.

Helyn K Hedeman

August 8, 1940 - January 16, 2022