Helene Marguerite Rones Farrington of Northampton, MA, – died peacefully with family on July 1, 2024. Born June 1, 1926, to Gerard Andrew Rones and Helen J. (Gumpright) Rones, Helene grew up in the Boston area surrounded by many relatives. She loved reading, art, playing the piano, and adventuring. She was vivacious, yet kind and unassuming, and had many admirers and friends. She graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and traveled to Europe that year. One summer, while on break from teaching at Endicott Junior College, Helene had a radio show—playing piano and singing. Later, she worked as an interior designer. In 1953, in her capacity as secretary at the Massachusetts Art Education Association, she met William E. Farrington, Jr., the president of the association, at a conference. The school librarian arranged for him to give her a ride home, and within the year they were married.
Helene and Bill moved to Huntington soon after. She set up a Montessori-style nursery school for her own and neighborhood children, an early sign of the wonderful mother she would become, and also owned a small housewares and jewelry shop. Later, they moved to Northampton, and she began teaching art in the local public school system. Smith College routinely placed their art education students in her classrooms for their practicums. For years, she would run into former students, some with their own children, whose eyes lit up when they recognized her. She was the RE director at the Unitarian Church and a Girl Scout leader. She and Bill eventually moved to Amherst after retiring.
She was never happier than when setting up a new home, for herself or one of her daughters, on day trips to see the sights, making art or crafts, or delving into books about the environment, health, philosophy, or progressive politics. We will always remember her for her laughter. Her humor was never mean-spirited, but reveled in the absurd, and in simply being human. She always tried to understand another's point of view.
Helene was predeceased by her husband of 48 years, William, a wonderful man and father, and later her best friend Paula. She leaves behind her daughters Ainslee; Suzanne; Julie, and her husband Peter; and her granddaughter Cassandra.
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