With great sadness we announce the death of long-time OGS Kingston Branch member and Branch Council member Helen Coffey.
Helen died on 18 July 2025, at AB Smith Homestead House hospice, at the age of 80.
Helen was born in Tyendinaga township, the only child of Kathleen (McGinnis) and Joseph Coffey. She earned her Honours B.A. in History from Queen’s University in 1966 and her Bachelor of Library Science degree from the University of Toronto in 1969.
Helen Coffey worked as a librarian in the Queen’s Library System for 35 years. She volunteered with several organizations, including various Queen’s residence boards, the Queen’s Alumni Association, the St. Thomas More Parish, the Holy Family Parish in Kingston, and the Ontario Genealogical Society. Helen also volunteered as a tutor of English as a Second Language for many years.
Helen published a history of the Coffey family and was still working on the McGinnis family when she passed away.
Kingston Branch OGS Board members will miss her openness to new ideas and her efforts to keep the Branch active and vital.
Further information is available from The Kingston Whig Standard obituaries.
