Helen Boscher

Helen Boscher is the mother of Gail Winert, Gary Struck and Marvis Boscher and the step mother of Lynn and Keith Boscher.  Her biography was written by her son, Gary Struck, in 2007 for her 90th birthday celebration. Here it is, with a few edits and additions of information that I (Heidi) acquired from a letter she wrote to me in 1990 and personal interviews in 2009 and 2012.

Helen Florence Fannie DeMersman was born on November 21, 1917 in Buffalo, New York. She was the second child of Mata and Andrew DeMersman. The first being her brother Oscar, who was seven years her senior. She was named after her maternal aunt, Helene Lemke.  Their family remained in Buffalo until Helen was about 6 weeks old. At that time her father got a job in Dayton, Ohio. While he was there, Her mother and family went to Rochester to live with Aunt Helene and Uncle Paul while Andrew was getting things settled in Dayton. When arriving in Rochester, they were met at the train station by Aunt Helene, Uncle Paul and her cousin Fannie. This being the first time to meet her new cousin, Fannie asked to hold her little Mike (Helen), thus the nickname Mike stuck with her.

After finding a house to rent, 1037 Bolanda Ave. Dayton, Ohio, and getting settled in, Andrew sent for the family to join him. They lived there until Helen was in second year of high school.  She attended Whittier grade school and Roosevelt High. Then, along with so many others, her father lost his job due to the depression. By that time Helen’s brother, Oscar had married and was living on Hedgegarth Dr.in Irondequoit, NY. Uncle Oscar was able to convince Grandpa to move back to Rochester and live with them on Hedgegarth Dr. Although her mother wanted Helen, who was only 16, to finish school, Helen convinced her parents she could get a job and bring money in to help support the family. She was able to find a job doing housework for the Crosset family where she worked till she was 18 yrs. old.

After reaching the working age of 18, she was able to go to work for the Eastman Kodak Co.. She worked in building 48 inspecting film until 1941. Shortly after moving to Rochester she was introduced to Franklin Charles Struck through her brother Oscar and Grandpa Struck, Franklin's dad. Now you might ask, how did Oscar get to know Grandpa Struck? Well it turns out Oscar had married into the Bohm family who were good friends with the Struck’s. Grandpa Struck wanted Oscar to introduce his sister to Franklin. She and Franklin Struck went on their first date to a ball game at Webster High School. They dated for several years but most every date included Franklin's good friend, Herb Smith, because he had a car and Franklin didn’t. Finally, he was able to buy a car of his own: A Desoto with a rumble seat,and the couple was able to do some serious dating.

Franklin Charles Struck
9/20/1914-9/21/1949

They were married on September 11, 1937 . The wedding and reception took place at home on Hedgegarth Dr. because Helen's dad had had a stroke in 1935 and would not be able to attend the wedding if it were held anywhere else. For their honeymoon, they drove the Desoto to Long Island where they stayed with Helen’s Uncle Eugene and Aunt Emma (a lot different than today’s honeymoons), then on to the Adirondacks. Returning home, they rented an apartment in Rochester on Chatfield St..  They lived there until shortly before their daughter, Gail, was born onJune 17, 1941 . Then they bought their first house at 260 Cravenwood Ave. in the town of Greece.  After Franklin finished remodeling the upstairs for the master bedroom, Grandpa & Grandma DeMersman came to live with them. When Grandpa DeMersman was a young man, he had been in a railroad accident, loosing his right leg.  He walked with an artificial leg until he had his stroke.  He was a wonderful father and husband in spite of his affliction. He had a good sense of humor and enjoyed life to the fullest.  Helen and Franklin's son, Gary, was born May 2, 1943.   Helen became a member of a women's club, Eastern Star, in 1943, to which she still belongs. She went through all the chairs of the organization until she became matron in 1951. Her children will never forget the yellow floral bouquet with long ribbons attached with 100 $1.00 bills tied to each ribbon, given to her at her induction.

Grandpa DeMersman died October 22, 1946 and after that Grandma Demersman took a job as a cook with St. Joseph’s Villa on Dewey Ave. . She worked there until Franklin died of September 21, 1949, the day after his 35^th birthday.  Franklin had worked at Eastman Kodak to support the family. He had a lot of trouble with his stomach which resulted in ulcers.  He had surgery in 1949 but still succombed to the ulcers. Helen was now faced with going back to work to provide for the family, Gail was 8 and Gary 6. Grandma DeMersmen quit her job at the Villa to stay home and take care for the children. She was a great grandmother and was loved dearly.  Helen went back to Kodak and started working in the cafeteria in Kodak Park. She later was able to acquire a job at Kodak’s Lincoln plant downtown. She worked in the Photostat office inspecting film.

Sometime after relinquishing her duties as matron  in the Eastern Star, she was able to find a little more time for herself and started dating again. She really was a pretty lady, so when the time was right it didn’t take long for the men to come calling. Being a person of high standards it didn’t take long to sort the good from the bad. Attending a singles dance at the Lake Ave. Baptist Church, she met and fell in love with her second husband Roland Farnsworth. He must have been quite the dancer because he swept her off her feet. Soon after, unbeknownst to anyone, they ran off and were married on July 7, 1956. Helen quit her job at Kodak just before their daughter, Marvis, was born on March 16, 1957.   Roland and Helen bought a home in Bristol, NY. They were planning to add onto the house and move there. In October 1958, Roland, their neighbor and Gary were working on the property's well when the cap flew up and hit Roland on the head, killing him.  Marvis was just 19 months old.   Helen was once again faced with raising a young child on her own but this time with 2 teenagers.

Helen sold the property in Bristol and remained on Cravenwood Ave. On Mother’s day of 1959, she went to the florist to buy a dogwood tree for herself. She had always loved dogwood trees. There she met George Boscher. She knew George from the neighborhood so he wasn’t a complete stranger. George was a widower with two young boys, Lynn and Keith. George asked if he could call her sometime and of course she said yes. It wasn’t long after that when George called to ask her out. The following year, on March 19, 1960, they were married at Salem United Church of Christ.  Shortly after being married, Helen and George bought property on Fairway Dr.off Latta Rd in Greece and built a split level house, moving into it in late fall of 1960. George adopted Marvis and gave her the name of Boscher. Grandma DeMersman lived with them for part of the year and with Oscar the other half of the year until she passed away on December 28, 1963. In 1966 they sold the house and moved to Spencerport on Nichols St. By that time all the kids had married or joined the service except Marvis, who was 9 years old. She finished up school in Spencerport and went on to college at Purdue University. After that the house was empty of kids. George retired somewhere around 1971. He and Helen enjoyed some traveling and the quiet life. Going out to dinner was one of their favorite pastimes. There weren't many restaurants in Rochester or the surrounding area they ever missed.  Unfortunately after a short illness, George passed away March 14, 1985, five days before their 25^th wedding anniversary. Once again Helen was left alone.  

Keith Boscher, Lynn Boscher, Gary Struck
Marvis Boscher, Helen Boscher, Gail Winert

She stayed in the house until the following year trying to decide what to do. Finally the decision was made; She sold the house in 1986 and moved to an apartment on 1653 Stowell Dr.apt #4  Rochester, N.Y.14616. During this time she was re-united with Henry Vogt, an old time family friend, whom she was able to share many good times before he passed away. Helen was also been able to travel and spend time with her children and grandchildren, including a Christmas cruise and a trip to Disney World in 2006.

On November 25, 2007, her family gathered at The Lodge on The Green in Greece, NY to honor and celebrate her 90^th birthday. All of her children and grandchildren  and many of her great-grandchildren were in attendance, as well as many beloved friends and family members. In January of 2012, Helen was diagnosed with a heart valve problem .  After being released from the hospital, she moved into Gail's home.  In July of 2012, Helen had a fall and was taken to the hospital.  She was in great pain, and after giving her pain medication, she returned home. A few days later, she returned to the hospital.  Her frail body was not recovering and she was in great pain.  Her family gathered around her and made the decision to give her the comfort care she would need without medical interference.  She was transferred to a hospice, in a beautiful room where she could hear the birds singing through the window and her family could visit with her and spend her final days with her.  In the evening of July 8, 2012, Helen Boscher passed through the veil from this world to the next.  She has always been an inspiration to her loved ones.  We believe her great spirit will live on to watch over us and that she will be embraced in the arms of our Saviour.  She is survived by her 5 children, 29 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren and some great-great grandchildren.