Helen Edith Blade, 92, wife of the late Theodore Blade, passed away in Evanston, IL on August 18, 2013. Born in New Haven on December 22, 1920 to the late Paul and Edith Casius Starbranch. Helen is survived by her daughter, Dr. Constance Blade of Evanston, IL and her son, Kenneth A. Blade of Amesbury, MA; grandsons, Nick and Brian Schlesinger; siblings, Edna Carlson of Peoria, IL, Charles Starbranch of Virginia Beach, VA, and Alice Robbins of Morgantown, WV. Predeceased by her siblings, John and Paul Starbranch, Marion Blade, and Jean Wyrick. Before moving to Illinois 10 years ago, Helen was a long time resident of West Haven where she taught in the schools for over 30 years. She was a member of the West Haven Retired Teachers Association and the Bethesda Lutheran Church Women's Group. Funeral Service will be held in Bethesda Lutheran Church, New Haven on Friday, August 23rd at 10:00 a.m. followed by a burial in Evergreen Cemetery. Friends are invited to visit with Helen's family on Thursday evening from 5 to 8:00 P.M. at BEECHER & BENNETT- TAYLOR FUNERAL HOME, 410 Campbell Ave, West Haven. Donations in Helen's memory may be sent to Bethesda Lutheran Church, 305 St. Ronan St., New Haven, CT 06511 or www.bethesdanewhaven.org or Curt's Cafe, 2922 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 or www.curtscafe.org.