A beloved teacher for decades, Helen (Terry) Della-Volpe died of heart failure on October 17, 2010. She had lived 86 years. Born in Mingo Junction, Ohio, she graduated from Marietta College having earned the coveted Phi Beta Kappa distinction. She was an active member of the Sigma Kappa Sorority. She later received her Masters in Education and taught at Millbrook High School for many years. Before coming to the Millbrook area, Helen lived in New York City where she met and married artist Ralph Della-Volpe. Having lived in Millbrook for nearly her entire adult life, Helen spent many of those years living on the Bennett College campus. Helen loved to travel with her three children, family dog and husband. Her favorite place on earth was the Outer Banks in North Carolina where she spent hours combing the beach and surfcasting. Helen is known for her love of knowledge and teaching, especially biology. Her high standards challenged decades of students to excel in the classroom and beyond. Her former students say she wasnt merely a great teacher, but also a friend and someone with whom they could hold spirited discussions on a plethora of topics. Helens quest for detail and personal history lead to her interest in genealogy. Her protracted research resulted in tracing her family lineage back centuries to Europe, as well as finding long lost relatives here in the States. Her vast collection of genealogical work can now be found as a valuable resource in the Millbrook Library. Helen was an avid gardener and great lover of flowers and animals. She fed and spoke to the birds year-round; this attracted such a wide variety of birds that the Rockefeller Foundation sought permission to record bird call and song in her backyard in Millbrook. Every stray cat that happened to be lucky enough to end up nearby her home was enthusiastically welcomed as part of the family. Helen leaves behind her devoted husband of 62 years, Ralph, proud daughters Tisa and Bronwyn and two grandchildren, Hallie and Taylor and daughter-in-law Alison, three cats, many happy memories and a great many friends.Services will be held at the Lyall Memorial Federated Church in Millbrook on Wednesday October 20 at 10 AM. Interment will be at the Nine Partners Cemetery