Helen L. Chaffee, 92, of Hartwood, Virginia, passed away on Friday, June 28, 2019 at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia following a brief illness.  She was born in Buffalo, New York on January 29, 1927, the daughter of Louis Spero and Eufrosynie Yianilos.

Helen graduated with a B.S. degree from the University of Buffalo and MEd from Cortland State Teacher's College and for 40 years she taught elementary school in Dryden, New York and Springfield, Virginia.  In fact, it was when Helen moved from Buffalo to rural upstate New York for her first teaching position that she met and later married the love of her life, Clarence L. Chaffee, who predeceased her.

Helen's life was one of hard work, a dedication to education and teaching, and constantly striving to make a better life for her family. She loved life and her family wholeheartedly. She was not afraid to take a few chances along the way because she believed that with hard work and dedication the chances would turn out for the best.

Helen grew up fast as, following the death of her father at an early age, Helen and her mother went to work in the in the family's candy business, Lily Chocolates, based in Buffalo, N.Y. She often described how she would do her schoolwork in a back booth of the store when business was slow. Here she also learned the art of candy making, and she reveled in creating Easter, Valentine's Day and Christmas candies from her family's large collection of holiday themed chocolate molds.  While still a teenager, she also began what later became her lifelong passion of working with young children, as she taught Sunday School at her local Greek Orthodox Church.

Years later, while a teacher at Dryden (N.Y.) Elementary School, Helen once again called upon her candy-making skill and experience when she and her husband, Clarence, opened Chaffee Chocolate Shop in Cortland, N.Y.  Helen always referred to these as very happy years because she was doing what gave her great pleasure -- teaching young children at school and also teaching her own four children the family's tradition of candy making.  Best of all, she always said, she loved that at the chocolate shop, she, her husband and her children spent so much time "working together as a family."

In 1969, Helen and Clarence made a big decision to move the family to Virginia where they participated in an expansion of her Yianilos family's Ranch House Restaurant chain.  Here Helen began what became a 20 year stint as a popular teacher at Rolling Valley Elementary School, teaching primarily at the second grade level.  She took pleasure in the academic development of young students, and for years after her retirement, she continued to hear from former students who thanked her for her encouragement and helping shape their early lives.

The move to Virginia also brought Helen and Clarence into close proximity to Maryland's Rosecroft Raceway and the sport of harness racing which they both enjoyed. They quickly became regular patrons – and soon after began racing and breeding their own Standardbred horses under their Shadow Acres Farm banner.  The couple always parked their car on the apron of the racetrack near the grandstand, and they developed friendships with many of the track regulars who began to seek them out to chat about Chaffee owned horses, industry issues and thoughts and opinions on horses scheduled to race that evening.

Shadow Acres celebrated their greatest racing success with a Crockett sired gelding named Hefner who was not only one of Helen's favorite horses, but also a local fan favorite.  Back in a time when the common saying was that any horse that could pace a mile in under 2:00 was really special, Hefner set a lifetime mark of 1:57.1F, earned $142,711 and was honored as Horse of the Year by Maryland's Cloverleaf Horsemen's Association.

Helen enjoyed watching Hefner race, making frequent appearances with him in the winner's circle -- and when Hefner had time off from racing, she loved giving him treats and attention at their Hartwood farm.  It was also at this farm where she and her husband delivered and raised foals, and Helen especially enjoyed naming them and showering each with the greatest of care and attention.

A prolific reader, Helen could be seen jotting notes into a small book she kept in her purse, detailing each book that she read.  Famous for her "green thumb," Helen also spent leisure hours gardening, successfully raising both vegetables and flowers – and enjoying the beauty of her favorite yellow roses.

Throughout Helen's life, though, her family was always at the forefront of importance for her.  She was a devoted wife to her beloved husband, Clarence, Sr.  And she adored her roles as mother and grandmother.  Helen was happiest when with her family -- and took great pleasure in creating family meals centered on Greek recipes, especially her mother's recipe affectionately called Yiayia's chicken and Kourambietes (Greek Christmas cookies).  Whenever Helen spoke of her children and grandchildren, her face lit up and her eyes sparkled -- they were her great pride and joy.

In addition to her husband and parents, Helen was predeceased by two brothers, Spero Yianilos of New York and Anthony Yianilos of Virginia.

She is survived by two sons, Clarence L (Judy) Chaffee, Jr. of Vienna, VA and Anthony (Barbara) Chaffee of Waldorf, MD, two daughters, Sandra Persons (James, Jr.) of Fredericksburg, VA and Susan Chaffee of Hartwood, Virginia; grandchildren Kaare (Christopher) Copetas of Washington, D.C., Stuart Chaffee (Dana) of Wellesley, MA, Christie (Shannon) Edens of Richmond, VA, Terry (Laurie) Chaffee of Paris, KY, Wyatt (Laura) Chaffee of Reston, VA, Drew (Kevin) Farendorff of Fairfax, VA, Chad Johnson (Candi) of Thomaston, ME, Rebecca (Matthew) Hanna of Clayton, NC, Lynsey (Joey) Johnson of La Plata, MD, Samuel (Jacquelyn) Persons of Richmond, VA, James Persons III and Michael Persons, both of Hartwood, VA, and by numerous great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 5 ^th at 11 a.m. at Nativity of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church, 12326 Spotswood Furnace Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22407.  Internment will take place following the funeral at Laurel Hill Memorial Park, 10127 Plank Road (Route 3), Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA.

Flowers may be sent to the Nativity of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church as above, or contributions may be made in her name to this church.