Helen P. Phenicie

Phenicie, Helen P.

Mrs. Helen Pauline “Polly” Phenicie, nee “Payne”, died peacefully on December 6, 2019 in Milford DE at the age of 90.  Polly is survived by her three children Fred Asbury, wife Colleen of Baltimore, Maryland, Diana Phillips, husband Vernon, of Milford, Delaware, and Debra Custer, of Altamont, New York; siblings Linda Walker of Ohio and Joan Weeks of North Carolina; grandchildren, Michele Mason, Vernon Phillips, Jr., Ann Koonce, Frank Seyfferth, William Seyfferth, Jason Asbury, Jimmie Asbury and Eric Asbury; 11 great-grandchildren and 5 Great-Great Grandchildren. Polly was preceded in death by her husband, Elder “Tom” Phenicie, her children, Kay Kaczorowski and David Asbury, parents Tivis and Emma Payne of West Virginia, brother Donald, and sisters Joretta, Patsy, Connie, and Brenda.

Helen was born on April 17, 1929 in Orgas West Virginia to Tivis and Emma Payne. She was a child of a coal mining community and married Frank Asbury at age 17. Helen gave birth to her 1st child at age 18 in Hernshaw West Virginia.  During her West Virginia years, aside from being a housewife and loving mother, she also worked for the Marmet Hospital in their house keeping department.  In 1965, she and the family moved to Baltimore, Maryland. During her Baltimore years, she worked at Maryland Cup Corporation for many years until she retired. She enjoyed her retirement years traveling with her 2nd husband, site seeing and visiting with her out of state family. She moved to Milford, Delaware to live with her daughter, Diana, in 2004 where she finished out her retirement years.  

Helen had a love for music. Her music hobbies consisted of singing and playing the guitar. Her family and friends loved to hear her unique talent of yodeling. There are fond memories of her singing and playing the guitar on summer nights in the city surrounded by friends and family.  Other hobbies Polly loved was cooking, collecting baby dolls (dolls and Barbies) and art whether it was painting with the famous TV artist Bob Ross or coloring adult coloring books in her later years. Several family members have portraits on their walls of her beautiful paintings. Granddaughters always loved to play with her baby doll collection during visits.

Helen was always full of life, loved to dress up with her makeup and jewelry and had a fond love for her family.  She always looked forward to the holidays with good food and time with the family.  She will be dearly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her. 

     Family requests relatives and friends to visit the family owned Gonce Funeral Service P.A. 4001 Ritchie Highway on Thursday from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Service will begin at 12:30 PM, followed by interment in Meadowridge Memorial Park.

         Please feel free to leave condolences and share fond memories here for the family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Helen P. Phenicie, please visit our floral store.