Wager, Helen Pierce

Helen Pierce Wager, age 98, of Blacksburg died Saturday, February 23, 2013, at her home. She was born in Elsie, Michigan on November 18, 1914 to the late John Q. Pierce, II and Mary Agnes Durkin Pierce.

She moved to Syracuse, NY in 1927, graduated from Nottingham High School and Syracuse University with a B.A. in Music Performance (voice). She moved to New York City where she married, raised her family, and worked for thirty five years as an organist, choir director, vocalist, and piano accompanist for the Brooklyn Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church. She was a woman of deep faith, with loyalty to her church, using her talent for the glory of God. After retiring from her work in New York, she moved to Blacksburg, VA where she continued to use her voice to honor God as a choir member at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church.

She was predeceased by husband, Henry T., in 1976, brother, John Q. Pierce, III (Maude), sister Margaret Eichenlaub (Henry), and brother David Pierce.

She is survived by daughters, Margaret (Frank) Scully, of Beechhurst, NY, Susan Wager of Seattle, WA and Kathleen Wager (Andrew Sisson) of Blacksburg, VA; granddaughter, Andrea Carr (Michael) of Arlington, VA; grandson, Chris Gottlieb of Seattle, WA and many beloved nieces, nephews and their families.

The family wishes to thank Jeremy Freeman, M.D., Jose Rivero, M.D., Chad Johnston, D.O., Tina Smusz, M.D., Lori Burton, R.N., and the rest of the staff of Carilion Hospice of the New River Valley for their skilled and compassionate care during and at the end of her life, and the members of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church for providing her a spiritual home during her time in Blacksburg, VA.

A Prayer service will be held Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 5:30 pm in the McCoy Funeral Home with Father Remi Sojka officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service until 7:30 pm Tuesday evening. The funeral mass and burial will be held in Queens, NY later this week.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203.

Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg.