Helena “Teddy” Hitchcock Backus, 81, passed away Jan. 25 at her residence in Waldoboro.
She was born April 14, 1925, in Englewood, N.J., the daughter of Ripley (Jr.) and Helena Bleecher Hitchcock.
She was a graduate of Tenefly High School in Tenefly, N.J. and continued her education at Skidmore College in Saratoga, N.Y. While Teddy was a resident of New York, she enjoyed competing in horse shows at Madison Square Garden.
Teddy met Edward H. Backus at a U.S.O. dance where she was volunteering during WWII. In February of 1945, they married and made their home in New Milford, N.J.; together they raised three children.
After Ed’s retirement in 1973, they moved back to Maine.
Teddy was active in the Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, and as a Sunday School teacher. She was President of the Waldoboro Women’s Club in 1976, and for 12 years volunteered at Montpelier. She was an active member of St. Andrew’s Church in Newcastle, and belonged to a knitting group called “The Knit-Wits” who took turns going to each other’s homes for knitting projects.
She enjoyed being creative and loved knitting, water colors, oil painting, sewing and doing many crafts with fabric. She also enjoyed early American crafting, making candles, spinning her own yarn, and braiding rugs. She was an excellent cook and will be remembered for being creative at all that she did.
She will be sadly missed by her family and many friends.
She was predeceased by her husband; daughter, Betsy Backus; and brother, Roger Hitchcock.
Survivors include her daughter, Barbara Backus of Waldoboro; son, David Backus and wife Linda of Waldoboro; and grandsons, Matthew Backus of Kentucky, and Thomas Backus of Waldoboro.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Teddy’s memory to Montpelier, General Henry Knox Museum, Thomaston, ME 04861.
A graveside service will be held in the spring with services to be announced at a later date.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.
