NORTH CHILI - Helen (Pratt) Vertucci, age 99, formerly of Richfield Springs, passed away peacefully on Monday morning, August 19, 2013 at Westwood Commons, North Chili. She was born on April 21, 1914 in the Town of Warren, the daughter of Herbert and Olive (Sweet) VanValkenburg. A life long resident of Richfield Springs, she was a 1932 graduate of Richfield Springs Central Schools. She completed and received her RN certification at Amsterdam City Hospital in 1935. In 1936 she married Herman H. Pratt of Richfield Springs, a union that lasted 31 years until his passing on February 21, 1967. She later married Anthony Vertucci of Richfield Springs on May 22, 1982. He preceded her in death on February 25, 2000. Helens nursing career began with home nursing and then private duty nursing at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown. In the early 1950s she was invited to take the vacant school nurse position by then RSCS principal, George Purple. To acquire her nurse-teacher certification she spent several summers studying at Syracuse University and Oneonta State. In addition to school nurse duties, she also served as an Otsego County Public Health Nurse during the summers off from school. As a school nurse she was instrumental in convincing the public to partake in the polio vaccination program. She and the late Dr. Wendell Bryce administered the vaccines. Helen was also at the forefront of a fluoridation controversy regarding the Village Water Supply in the late 1950s. She retired from RSCS in 1974. She was devoted to her community as exhibited by her participation in many clubs and organizations. She was a Life Member of the Warren Grange and Ganowages Chapter of the DAR. She was a Brownie/Girl Scout leader and a Cub Scout leader and supporter of the Boy Scouts of America and a volunteer with the Red Cross during WWII. Helen was the oldest member of Church of Christ Uniting of Richfield Springs. She was also active in the local garden club for many years, a member of the Canadarago Lake Association and the Richfield Springs Fire Department Ladies Auxillary. Surviving her are a daughter, Beverly Strother Pratt of Avon, one son, Kenneth Pratt and his wife Barbara of Spencerport, two step-sons and their wives, Anthony and JeanVertucci of Baldwinsville, Lawrence and Francis Vertucci of Syracuse; two step-daughters Anne Reilly and her husband John of Ossining; Mary Ellen Edwardsen of Chittenango, five grandchildren and nine step-grandchildren, three great grandchildren and seven step-great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by special friend and care-giver, Anna Hosford. Besides her parents and husbands Herman and Anthony, Helen was predeceased by three, sisters, Bernice Dunckel, Gladys Hamilton and Dorothy Dawson two brothers, George and Wilber VanValkenburg a son-in-law, William Strother, and her grandson, Gregory Strother. Calling hours for Helen will be on Friday from 4:00 until 7:00 pm in J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home; 40 West James Street, Richfield Springs.Funeral service will be on Saturday at 10:00 am in the Church of Christ Uniting, Richfield Springs with the Reverend Mark Ioset, Pastor officiating. Interment will follow in Schuyler Lake Cemetery.Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Church of Christ Uniting Organ Fund, PO Box 896, Richfield Springs, NY 13439 or the Richfield Springs Public Library, PO Box 271, Richfield Springs, NY 13439. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home