Helen O’Conor Spencer, a long-time resident of Chevy Chase and Bethesda, Maryland, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on September 13, 2019, at the age of 95.

Helen was born March 28, 1924, in Washington, D.C., a third generation Washingtonian and daughter of the late Justin Vincent O’Conor and Marie Chapman O’Conor. She attended Blessed Sacrament Elementary School, Dunblane Academy, and was a proud graduate of Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School and Georgian Court College.

After college, Helen met and married Richard A. Spencer Jr. on August 26, 1950, at Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Washington, D.C. Helen and Dick were blessed with five children. Helen was devoted to her family, raising her children in Chevy Chase and actively volunteering at Blessed Sacrament School, Georgetown Visitation, and St. John’s College High School. She was a member of the Memorare Group of the Sanctuary Sodality at Blessed Sacrament and a member of Columbia Country Club for 65 years.

Helen was quite a character. She loved her family, meeting new people, and seeing old friends. She was generous with her time and talents, and connected with people through humor. Helen’s enthusiasm was often expressed with a rousing “hot dog.” As her Visitation yearbook noted, she could often be found at the center of the noise. She was also known for her attire, which included a “get up and go” bright wardrobe and a preference for Bermuda shorts and a button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

She excelled at sports and was a member of the Blessed Sacrament bowling league, she loved field hockey, basketball, tennis, and golf. She continued to play wallyball with her children and grandchildren well into her 80s. She enjoyed travel, particularly the yearly family beach trip to the Outer Banks, where nothing made her happier than walking down to the beach and seeing 20 chairs filled with family and friends.

Helen was predeceased by her husband, Richard A Spencer Jr., and is survived by her five children: Marie Woodbury Claiborn (Dan), Terry Spencer Fassl (John), Karen Spencer, Colleen Henderson (Stu), and Richard A. Spencer, III (Eileen) and thirteen grandchildren: Brendan (Margaret) and Christopher (Ann) Woodbury, Caroline Claiborn (Jason Way), Camilla Claiborn, Alison, Meghan, Brian, and Katie Fassl, Andrew Spencer, Spencer Henderson, Reid, Connor, and Mary Farrell Spencer, as well as two great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved and took great pleasure spending time with them.

Friends and family wishing to pay their respects are invited to call at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament Chapel, 3630 Quesada St.. NW, Washington, DC, Tuesday, September 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held in the main church, 5949 Western Ave. NW, Washington, DC, on Wednesday, September 18, at 11 a.m. Interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, 1524 35th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007 or Montgomery Hospice 1355 Piccard Drive, Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20850