Helen Keene Oettinger

Helen Keene Oettinger died peacefully at the age of 96 on Tuesday January 5th at Our Lady of Mercy Life Center, Guilderland. Helen was born to Charles and Josephine Keene of Syracuse, NY. She was a graduate of Syracuse University where she also met her husband Fred.

Helen loved her family, friends and living in the Hilltown of Knox. She was a great mom to three children, Fred, Kate and Jim and a loving wife to Fred W Oettinger for 69 Years. Helen resided at Our Lady of Mercy Life Center for the past 5 years where she was well cared for and loved by those who knew her.


Helen loved to garden, helped run a Christmas Tree Farm for 27 years with her husband Fred, spend time in the Adirondacks and travel. Florida was a second home for many years along with truck camper travel across the United States. Helen especially loved Cape Cod and the Northeastern coastline. She painted with a local instructor for many years and continued painting until Alzheimer’s took away her ability to paint. Her sense of humor, even in the throes of Alzheimer’s, was quick and always done with kindness. Helen was a founding member of the Knox Historical Society and served it’s board of directors.


Helen was pre deceased by her husband Fred. She is survived by her sister Charlotte (Mike) Behr of Syracuse and her three married children, Fred and Lisa Oettinger of Penobscot, Maine, Kate (Oettinger) and Rob Hahn of Schoharie, Jim Oettinger and Lynn O’Brien of Mystic, Connecticut.

She is also survived by five grandchildren, Fred Oettinger and his wife, Rachel, of Salem New Hampshire, Nick Oettinger and his wife Brittany, of Winterport, Maine, Keenen Hahn and his wife, Kirstie of Knox, Ben Oettinger and his wife, Kaylei of Colchester, Connecticut, Brian Oettinger and his mother Gail Oettinger of Oakdale Connecticut and four great-grandchildren, Chase and Emery Oettinger of Winterport, Maine, Hayden and Hudson Hahn of Knox. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held privately at a later date.
The family greatly appreciates the kindness extended during this time. We especially want to thank all of the kind people that interacted with and cared for Helen while she was at Our Lady of Mercy.