MOHAWK – Helen M. McGowan, of W. Main St., Mohawk, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 3, 2016, at Valley Health Services, Herkimer, with her friend, Betty Brown, by her side, 5 days before she would have celebrated her 100th Birthday. She was born on April 8, 1916, in the Town of Salisbury, NY, the daughter of Carl and Nellie (Satterlee) McGowan, and graduated from Little Falls High School. Helen was employed as a cashier at J.C. Penney Co., Little Falls, for 20 years. She later worked at Sperry-Rand Univac, Ilion and Utica. Most recently, Helen was employed at the Payroll Dept. for 8 years at Library Bureau, Herkimer. She was an avid reader and New York Yankee fan. She always had a smile for everyone. There are no known surviving relatives, but she is survived by her close friends, Gordon and Barbara Marquissee, of Mohawk, and Betty Brown, of Ilion. She was predeceased by her parents; her brother, Francis McGowan; and her close friend, Maxine Kublick. A graveside service will be held later this spring at a date and time to be announced at the Dibble and Tuttle Cemetery, Salisbury. In keeping with Helen’s wishes, there are no scheduled calling hours or funeral home services. Anyone wishing to share a memory of Helen, or add to her online memorial, may go to www.applegateandday.com. A special thank you to the St. Luke’s Hospital 2nd floor staff and to the Valley Health Services 2nd floor east staff for their wonderful care and compassion given to Helen. Helen’s graveside service arrangements and supervision were prearranged and entrusted to her Family Funeral Director, Don Applegate, at Applegate-Day & Enea Family Funeral Home’s newly reopened and renovated home at 102 West St., Ilion, NY, (315-895-7722).