Helen Carroll

Helen Carroll passed away at The Cottages at Garden Grove, Cicero, New York following a brief illness. Helen was born on June 3, 1937 and died on June 25, 2025. Helen was predeceased by her parents C. Edward and Agnes Arkles and by her husband J. Patrick Carroll.

Helen is survived by her four daughters: Deborah Weston (Ronald), Cynthia DeCarolis (Louis), Susan Wilson (Gary), and Patricia Chaney (predeceased by her husband, Patrick); two granddaughters Samantha Lippel (Jon) and Kimberly Weston (Joseph Falkson); and four great-grandsons Emerson, Remington, Pierce, and Callum Lippel.

Helen was born in Watertown, New York and had strong ties to the North Country. Her father, Ed Arkles, was raised in Clayton and her mother, Agnes Fargo Arkles, was raised on Wolf Island in the Thousand Islands. Helen spent most of her childhood in Watertown, but also spent time living in Baltimore when her father, an electrician, worked on ships in the port during World War II and moved the family there.

Helen graduated from Immaculate Heart Academy in Watertown in 1954. Helen did not attend college because she dreamed of a career in retail and she was told you don’t go to college for that, you just get a job. Helen did get a job and realized her dream of a career in retail. Helen worked for Dey Brothers Department store in Syracuse for many years, working her way up from a part-time sales clerk to the buyer for the china and gifts department. Subsequently, Helen worked for Sibley’s downtown Syracuse store managing the china and gifts department. Helen continued to work for Sibley’s when it was purchased by the May Department Stores Company. Helen stayed with May Company when they closed Sibley’s and converted the stores to Kaufmann’s. Helen retired on her 65th birthday in 2002.

Helen loved spending time with her family. She enjoyed traveling with her husband, Pat, to her favorite destinations New Orleans, Hilton Head Island, and Toronto. Helen and Pat were avid golfers, playing courses at many prestigious resorts including The Greenbrier in West Virginia, Pinehurst in North Carolina, and the Sea Pines Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island. Their home course was Tuscarora Golf Club in Marcellus, New York. Helen also enjoyed listening to dixieland jazz with her husband. Helen and Pat were longtime members of the Jazz Appreciation Society of Syracuse (JASS), attending jam sessions, concerts, and other JASS events.

A memorial will be held in August. If you would like to honor Helen, please consider a donation to Jazz Appreciation Society of Syracuse c/o: Susan Hodge, Treasurer, JASS, 501 Summit Avenue, Syracuse, New York 13207