Tribute to Helen Teresa Sugg

Helen Teresa (Lorden) Sugg, of Glendora, California, passed away peacefully on February 22, 2017.

Helen was born to Cornelius and Anna Lorden in Andover, New Hampshire, on April 25, 1928.  She grew up in nearby East Andover, and went to a two-room school-house.  She attended high school in Andover, playing on the girl’s basketball team.  Always an outstanding student, Helen graduated a year early at age 17 in 1945 as Valedictorian, then attended Bryant College of Business Administration in Providence, Rhode Island for one year, earning a clerical certificate.

In addition to finding employment in Providence, and later Hartford, Connecticut, as a secretary, Helen led an adventurous life in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, including stints in the summer working at Pioneer Valley Dude Ranch in Colrain, Massachusetts and as a waitress in Florida.  The Dude Ranch allowed her to spend time with horses, which she loved, and waitressing allowed her to soak up the warm Florida sun during cold New England winters.

In 1958 she returned to New Hampshire and purchased a 1953 Plymouth Cranbrook Convertible for her next adventure – a move to California.  She traveled west on a series of highways, including legendary Route 66.  She quickly found a job as a secretary with Monterey Oil in Los Angeles and in 1959, married the love of her life, Raymond.

Helen worked at a series of secretarial jobs until finding her workplace home at Burroughs, later Unisys Corporation.  During her many years at Burroughs/Unisys, Helen availed herself of the opportunity to continue her education, eventually earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration from the University of La Verne.

Helen was a devoted sister, wife, mother, and grandmother, and is survived by her sister Josephine Dziura, brother John Lorden, her loving husband of 57 years, Council Raymond Sugg III, sons Gary and Richard, daughters-in-law Mary and Pilar, and grandson David.                                         

Helen loved classic movies, crossword puzzles, and volunteering at the local library.  A devout Catholic, Helen was active in the Altar Society at Saint Martha Parish, Valinda, and later in the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul at Saint Dorothy Parish in Glendora.

Visitation, including a rosary service at 7:00 p.m., will be held at White’s Funeral Home in Azusa on Tuesday evening, March 7, 2017, beginning at 6:00 p.m.  A funeral mass will take place at Saint Dorothy Catholic Parish in Glendora on Wednesday, March 8, 2017, beginning at 10:00 a.m.  Burial will immediately follow at Oakdale Memorial Park in Glendora.

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