Springfield's only lottery millionaire passes at age 97

Once only famous for her pet geese, Helen Emery hit the jackpot at age 88.
Related story: Springfield woman claims Megabucks jackpot

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20150617/OBITUARIES/706179985/

Helen J. Emery June 17,2015 Email Article Print Article Helen J. Emery SPRINGFIELD — Helen Jewett-Emery, 97, of Forrest Drive, died May 26 at home in Springfield after a long period of declining health. Mrs. Jewett-Emery was born on the family farm in Benton, Maine, on Sept. 4, 1917, the daughter of Hiram and Frances R. (Nutt) Jewett. She was a 30 year resident of the Springfield area, moving to Perkinsville in the 1980s, from Milford, Conn., and later moving to the Dutton District in Springfield. She worked as a receptionist at Ascutney Mountain Resort and also worked at the Miller Art Center in Springfield. Earlier, she was a parts inspector and quality control inspector in aviation industry, the last being Precision Sensors of Milford. She also worked for Pratt and Whitney in Stratford, Conn., for many years, after moving to Connecticut in 1957 from Waterville, Maine. In 2006, she moved to Craigue Hill in Springfield after winning the Vermont Powerball Lottery, at age 89; she had purchased it at Jake’s South Street Market. She bought her first-ever home with her lottery winnings, and also purchased a new Mustang, black at age 90, another lifelong dream. A lucky woman, she had earlier won the Connecticut Lottery, twice. She had a lifelong love of White and Brown China and Emden geese, and sold Muscovy ducks for meat for many years to the Cambodian community. She was a federally licensed wildlife rehabilitator, and took care of Canada geese as well. She was married to Ralph A. Emery of Pittsfield, Maine, in 1945. They later divorced. Survivors include her two sons, Leonard M. Emery of Springfield and Roger A. Emery of Groton, Conn., two grandsons, Paul R. Emery of Shirley, Mass., and Leonard A. Emery of Springfield; and one great-granddaughter. She was predeceased by her parents and two sisters, Evelyn Sparrow of Portland, Maine, and Carlene Nielsen of Waterville, Maine. At her request, there will be no memorial service. She will be buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Waterville, Maine, next to her father and aunt. Springfield woman claims Megabucks jackpot By JOHANNA SORRENTINO Southern Vermont Bureau | August 08,2006 SPRINGFIELD — 2 12 26 29 33 38. Those were the numbers on the winning Megabucks ticket worth $2.1 million belonging to 88-year-old Springfield resident Helen Jewitt-Emery. Jewitt-Emery bought the ticket at Jake's South Street Market on Saturday. Store owner Richard Jacobs said Jewitt-Emery, a regular at the store for about eight years, brought the ticket into the store Monday morning to have it verified. "She couldn't believe it until she put the ticket through," he said. "She was awestruck. I thought she was going to faint. It just took her a few minutes to get a hold of reality." Jacobs said he immediately drove Jewitt-Emery to the lottery commission headquarters in Berlin to turn in her ticket. Vermont Lottery Commission Executive Director Alan Yandow said Jewitt-Emery elected to receive the jackpot in one lump sum, rather than in 25 equal payments over 25 years. This means after taxes Jewitt-Emery will receive $1.28 million. Yandow said Jewitt-Emery told television crews outside his office following the meeting that she would pay off the car she recently purchased and perhaps buy some farmland. Jacobs said when he found out on Saturday that his store sold the winning ticket he could barely believe it. He said his store had the first Megabucks machine in Springfield. "After a while you forget about thinking anyone is going to win. When I finally got that call out of the thousand machines out there I was very happy," he said. However, until Jewitt-Emery came in on Monday, he didn't know who won and the lottery commission does not give bonuses for unclaimed tickets. He said bringing Jewitt-Emery up to Berlin "was a dream come true." Jacobs said Jewitt-Emery purchases a ticket at South Street market almost every week. "She's a sweetheart of a woman," he said. "It's a big boost for us to have it be a local person and not just someone passing through. Then to have it be her is just icing on the cake." Jake's South Street Market will receive 1 percent of the annuity jackpot — a bonus of $21,750. Jacobs said he doesn't know how he will use the bonus, but said he may put some of it towards the loan for the recently completed addition onto the store. However, Jacobs still has his eye on the jackpot. "I did ask Helen if she would marry me," he said. "She didn't say yes or no."