Helen E. Briggs, 87, of 18 Green Hills Road in Quaker Hill passed away on Mon. Jan. 11, 2010 at her residence.

            She was born on Oct. 14, 1922 in Alexandria, VA, the daughter of the late Ernest O. and Ruth V. Merritt Picken.

            Helen had married her husband Homer R. Briggs on Aug. 5, 1941 in New London.

            A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, she was also an avid Square and Round dancer.

            Besides her husband, Mrs. Briggs is survived by her daughter Ruth Briggs Smead and her husband John of Gouldsboro, ME, two sons Ernest Briggs and his wife Elizabeth of Quaker Hill, Jack E. Briggs and his wife Cathy of Lebanon, a sister Marilyn Hastey of Quaker Hill, a brother Ernest Picken of Groton, 9 grandchildren, Dawn, Monique, Lisa, Shannon, Alyson, Stephanie, Michael, Corrie and Jennifer and 11 great-grandchildren.

            She had also been predeceased by a sister Virginia Hayden and two brothers Harry and Paul Picken.

            Funeral service will be held at 11 am Thursday at the Byles Memorial Home, 99 Huntington St., New London.

            Her burial will follow in the Cedar Grove Cemetery in New London.

There will be visiting hours on Wednesday evening from 5 to 7 pm at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Hospice of S. E. Ct, 227 Dunham St., Norwich, CT 06360