Helen McArdle Buelow never suffered any serious illness, but after 97 years she passed away peacefully the evening of Dec. 2, 2020.
Born in Trout River, Quebec, and raised in the town of Chateaugay, N.Y., the family moved to Tipperary Hill in Syracuse after she had graduated high school. A proud veteran of the WAVES during WWII, she trained and studied at Oklahoma A&M and in Corpus Christi – only sorry that she was not able to do more than her training and work as a stenographer. She returned to Syracuse and earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Syracuse University thanks to the GI Bill.
Wanting to see more of the world she had learned about, she moved to Washington, D.C., earned a position with the Foreign Service, and had very fond memories of time spent in faraway places like Tripoli and Geneva. During that time she also made two lifelong friends – Peg Scholpp and Sue Kuschner – whom she would meet for weekend getaways over the years.
She later worked at Bristol Labs in Syracuse as executive secretary to the Vice President of Foreign Operations, Sid Sadoff. Through Sid and Bristol she met her husband of 55 years – Grant Buelow.
Together they raised five children, whom she made pull weeds, go to places like living history museums for vacations and try foods like gazpacho, moussaka and curry, and they are all better people for it.
Helen enjoyed learning about history and culture, gardening, cross-country skiing and loved to travel the world. With Grant, they were regular subscribers to Syracuse Stage and traveled to places like Spain, Greece and Ireland. She joined a weekly sewing circle as a means to spend time with friends and volunteered regularly – helping to start a Literacy Volunteers chapter at F-M and was a longtime volunteer with Meals on Wheels, the Manlius Historical Society and the ABC House.
She will be truly missed for her humor and her wonderful matter-of-fact spirit.
Surviving are sister, Patsy Shively; children, Paul, Joel (Albra Beynon), Neal (Julie Larson), Amy Lenczewski (Mitch) and Kyle (Bonnie Gregory); and numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by husband, Grant; and four McArdle sisters, Alice, Grace Root, Claire and Theresa Kreis.
Private services will be announced next week on Helen’s obituary page on the Schepp Family Funeral Home website. At the announced time you may then view the service live at facebook.com/scheppfamilyfuneralhomes.
The family plans to have a celebration of Helen’s life in the future when conditions allow.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Meals on Wheels of Onondaga County.
For guest book, please visit scheppfamily.com.
