ILION – Helen E. Dickinson, age 87, passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, July 2, 2016, at Valley Health Services in Herkimer. Born on August 2, 1928, in New York City, Helen was the daughter of the late William and Ellen (Morrison) Gordon. She was raised and educated in New York and attended schools there. At one time, she was married to the late LeRoy P. Dickinson, Sr., a relationship from which came her four children. Helen held various positions throughout her life; she served as a waitress; spent some time at Woolworth’s in New York City; and for many years, she worked as an assembler, first with the Bendix Corp. and then with Keith Clark, both located in Sidney, NY. Helen was a woman who enjoyed life’s simple gifts. She loved any time spent with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and, in her spare time, enjoyed playing Bingo and crocheting. She was a parishioner of St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Ilion and participated in the church choir, the Parish Aid and the Church Guild. Helen is survived by her daughter, Barbara McCormick, of Frankfort; her sons, LeRoy P. Dickinson, Jr., of NC, and Robert B. “Mick” Dickinson, of Ilion; her grandchildren, Maureen and Dan Waterbury, of Ilion, Stephen and Diane Cernak, of Schenectady, Shawn and Jennie Cernak, of Broadalbin, Shane Dickinson, of Frankfort, Chad and Ida Dickinson, of NC, Yolanda Dickinson, of Herkimer, Michael and Jesse Judd, of Maryland, NY, Shelly and Eric Ashley, of Oneonta, Aaron and Jodi Caprariello, of WI, Bridget Dickinson, of NC, and Chelsea Stafford, of Ilion; and numerous cherished great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. She also leaves Shirley and Wayne Pearce and family of Greenfield Center, whom Helen loved as her own children, and two nieces and a cousin. She was predeceased by her son, Patrick “Pat” Dickinson, and her brothers, William Gordon, Richard Gordon and Bernard Early. Friends and relatives are invited to attend Helen’s visitation, which will be held on Thursday, July 7, 2016, from 4 PM – 6 PM at the Applegate-Day & Enea Family Funeral Home’s original location at 102 West Street in Ilion. Helen’s funeral service and Celebration of Life will take place at the funeral home on Thursday, immediately upon the conclusion of visitation. Interment will take place in Armory Hill Cemetery. Helen’s family wishes to extend a heartfelt thanks to the staff of all three shifts on the One East Extension of Valley Health Services for the love and devotion shown to their mother. Anyone wishing to share a memory of Helen, or add to her online memorial, may visit www.applegateandday.com. Helen’s final wishes were pre-arranged and entrusted to Don Applegate and Martin L. Ciaccia, Funeral Directors.