Helen Parrish Townsend, 78, of Newark, Delaware, passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday morning, January 6, 2010. 
 Helen was born in Greenville on Aug. 25, 1931, daughter of Dorothy Speir Parrish and Hubert Parrish.  Her only sibling, Priscilla Riley, preceded her in death in December, 2009.
Helen was a kind, gentle, and beautiful person who touched many lives.  She was an exceptional wife and mother who always put her family first. She met her husband of 57 years when she was studying to be a teacher at Auburn University in Alabama. She was a lifetime member of the Auburn Alumni Association.
 As a longtime member of AAUW Newark Branch, she helped raise money for local scholarships.  As an active and enthusiastic supporter of her children, she was a Newark High School Band Booster.  She also worked tirelessly as a volunteer from 1983-1985 traveling all over the country cooking for the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps.
Helen leaves behind her husband, Lloyd E. Townsend; son, Lloyd Jr. and wife Kita Mappin of Nashville, Tenn., daughter, Laura and husband Jaime Garmendia of Red Lion, Penn., daughter, Melanie Milburn of Newark, Delaware, and son, Matthew and wife Rebecca of Townsend, Delaware.  She adored her 17 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Friends may visit with the family on Saturday, January 9, 2010 at Newark United Methodist Church, 69 E. Main St., Newark, DE  19711 from 2 pm.-3 pm. followed by a memorial service in celebration of Helen’s life at 3 p.m., and a small reception afterwards. 
Since Helen was a previous survivor of breast cancer and an avid lover of animals, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the Susan B. Komen Fund, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, TX  75265 or Robyn’s Nest Animal Rescue (c/o Robyn Guidara, 689 Brick Church Lane, Whites Creek, TN  37189), or your LOCAL animal rescue organization.  To express an online condolence, visit www.strano-feeley.com.