Longtime West Islip and Babylon resident Helen B. Brown died Oct. 25, 2008 at United Helpers Canton Nursing Home in Norwood, New York. She was 88.

"She was just a loving wife and homemaker," said her brother Thomas Neet of Salisbury, New York.

She was born July 12, 1920 in Derby, Connecticut to John and Helen (Shearin) Neet and had lived on Locust Street. She was a graduate of Babylon High School in the late 1930s, and worked as a telephone operator at Bell in Bay Shore until she married Charles H. Brown in 1952 at St. Joseph's Church in Babylon and moved to West Islip. In 2004, she moved to Norwood to be closer to family.

In addition to her brother, Mrs. Brown leaves behind many nieces and nephews, including Joan Howlett and Andrea Beaulieu of Norwood, New York, Charles and Patricia Howlett of West Islip, June Neet of Fountain

Inn, South Carolina and Douglas and Julie Neet of Perkinsville, Vermont. She was predeceased by her husband Charles in 1994, and her siblings, Christine Howlett, John, Charles, Robert, George, James, Patrick and Joseph Neet. She reposed at the Lawrence Funeral Home, Canton, New York, on Oct. 29, 2008. A Catholic Prayer Service was held with Rev. Douglas J. Lucia, pastor of St. Mary's Church, Canton, New York. Burial will be at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Babylon at a later date. Donations in Mrs. Brown's name can be sent to the Alzheimer's Association, Northern Regional

Office, 120 Washington Street, Suite 419, Watertown, New York 13601 or to the National Scoliosis Foundation, 5 Cabot Place, Stoughton, Massachusetts 02072.