Helen Doris McFarlin Neilson

Helen Doris McFarlin Neilson, 96, passed peacefully on October 14, 2025, at Harmony Village in Paramus, New Jersey, surrounded by family and caregivers. She was born on April 2, 1929, in Franklin, Kentucky, to Haydon and Zedna McFarlin, and was raised by her sister Mildred “Tillie” Lewis and her husband, James.

In the late 1950s, Helen moved to New York City, where she worked in the accounting department at Estée Lauder and met her husband, George Neilson. They made their home in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, and she lived in that same building for 60 years, alone after her husband’s passing in 1997. Helen also cherished time at her lakeside cabin in eastern Pennsylvania, where she formed lasting friendships.

In her later years, she spent holidays and special occasions with her cousin Lisa and her husband, John, and their three sons in Ridgewood, New Jersey. In 2022, she moved to the area to be closer to them and to receive additional care.

Helen was known for her independence, precision, intelligence, and lively spirit. She loved travel and drove annually to Kentucky to visit family and friends well into her nineties. She was also a devoted correspondent, known for her thoughtful and beautifully handwritten letters.

For over two decades, Helen was an active member of Quest, a New York City lifelong learning community based at City College of New York, where she embraced intellectual engagement and creative expression. She contributed poetry, created collage art, and served as editor of the group’s literary magazine for five years.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings Robert, Mildred, and Mary Agnes; and her husband, George.

A graveside service will be held on May 24, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Sulphur Spring Cemetery in Franklin, Kentucky.