Helen Schwatz Verderber of Jeffersonville, NY, a retired Building and Grounds Supervisor at the Sullivan County Department of Public Works Liberty Complex died on Friday, July 28, 2023, at Garnet Medical Center Harris, NY. She was 82.

The daughter of the late Leo J. Hick and Theresa Urshler Hick, she was born September 23, 1940 in Livingston Manor, NY.

Helen was a member of St. Georges Church.

At the age of 18, she became a New York Telephone Operator. On October 24, 1959, she married Joseph Schwatz. She would then take on the role of devoted mom to JoAnne, Paul and Thomas. While her children were young, she would also become the babysitter to many others, all of which still call her “Aunt Helen.” Once all of her “children” were in school, she worked at JYCS in the cafeteria. Never afraid of hard work, Helen also cleaned houses after her day at the cafeteria ended.  Helen would then become the first female custodian at JYCS. After many years at the school, Helen went to the Sullivan County Department of Public Works as the Supervisor of Building and Grounds at the “Infirmary.” Through this job, she met Fred Verderber whom she married on August 12, 1995. After her retirement, she went to work as a Dental Assistant for Dr. Jules Flax.   

Helen was a member of the Alter Rosary Society and the Jeffersonville Volunteer Ambulance Corps. She loved gardening and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Helen is survived by her husband, Fred Verderber; her daughter, JoAnne (Martin) Meislin; her son, Thomas Schwatz, her daughter-in-law, Jessica Schwatz; her sister, Anna Spencer; her granddaughters, Jessica (Jared) Thayer, Rachel (Patrick) Fagan, Grace  Schwatz, Hannah Schwatz, and Cristina Schwatz; Bonus grandson Joseph Hennigan; her great-grandchildren Emma, Nora, Hallie, Emilia and Nathan, Bonus great-grandson Joseph “Lil Joe”Hennigan; Her Step-Children; Mark (Linda) Verderber, Robert (Carren) Verderber, Cheryl (Ken) Treffinger and Denise Johnson; as well as several nieces and nephews. 

Helen was predeceased by her husband, Joseph Schwatz, her son, Paul Schwatz, her great-grandson Troy Thayer, and her siblings, William Dusold, Joseph Dusold, Leo Hick, and Fred Hick.

A memorial mass for Helen will be held at Saint George’s RC Church, Jeffersonville, NY, on Saturday, September 2, 2023 at 11:00 AM. Father Roland Raj will officiate. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Youngsville, NY. 

Helen’s family would like to thank the members of the Jeffersonville Volunteer First Aid Corps and the staff of the Care Center at Sunset Lake.

Instead of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Helen may be made to the Jeffersonville Volunteer Ambulance Corp.

 Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home, Jeffersonville, NY 845-482-4280. To send condolences, please visit stewartmurphyfh.com.