Helena Y. Van Vorst

Helena Y. Van Vorst, Milton, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 4, 2021, at The Center at Eden Hill - Dover, she was 74.  Mrs. Van Vorst was born in Milford, DE to the late Robert and Eleanor Yerkes, and raised in Houston, DE.

Mrs. Van Vorst graduated from Milford High School in 1965 and from LPN School in 1967 when she went to work for Milford Memorial Hospital for 3 years.  She then spent several years at Milford Manor, before she moved, with her husband, to Greenwood, DE to work on the family chicken farm from 1976 to 1995.  In 1990, she went back to nursing at Caroline Nursing Home in Denton, MD, until her retirement in 2015.  After retirement, she volunteered at the Milton Cheer Center.

In her leisure time, Mrs. Van Vorst loved being at the beach, Lewes being her favorite.  She enjoyed lounging by the pool and playing bingo. She also enjoyed taking trips, her favorites being Italy, Texas and Minnesota. 

Mrs. Van Vorst was very much the matriarch of her family, and was very family oriented.  She enjoyed monthly breakfasts or lunches with her siblings.  Her grandchildren were her world. She was very proud of all of their accomplishments and never missed any of their events.  She was quite the socialite and if you knew her, she was your best friend, and always stayed in touch.  She sent out cards for every occasion, and for her family, you would get birthday cards stuffed with stickers and the amount of money according to your age.  She always volunteered her time and energy to others, giving rides to doctor appointments, grocery stores, bingo, whatever was needed, you could count on her, even when she had difficulty getting around herself. She will be sadly missed.   

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her brother, Theodore "Teddy" Yerkes.

She is survived by her son, Daniel S. (Crystal) Van Vorst; daughter, Crystel L. (Kenneth) Farina; grandchildren, Jennifer Morgan Farina, Nicholas Bradey Van Vorst, Mason Neal Van Vorst; siblings, Robert Yerkes, Jr.  John H. Yerkes, Ruth Ann Farley, Laura J. Marvel, William "Bill" Yerkes and a host of nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life service for Mrs. Van Vorst will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, November 18, 2021 at the Houston Volunteer Fire Co. Interment will be private. 

Arrangements are entrusted to the Thomas E. Melvin & Son Funeral Home, please visit us at www.melvinfuneralhome.com to express or send condolences.

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