Helen E. Storey

On the overcast morning of October 6th, 2021, only days after her 91st birthday, Helen Elizabeth Storey breathed her last breath upon this earth and began her next journey. She passed from this world peacefully at home in her sleep.Helen is survived by her three adult children, Robert Clifton Storey Jr, Diane Elizabeth Storey, and Frank Gerald Storey; all three of them miss her very much and always will. Helen is also survived by her grandchildren, Chelsea, Rachel, Nicholas, David, and Rene; along with two great-grandchildren, Hanna and Stella. Additionally, of her six siblings, Helen is survived by her younger brother and sister, Peter Di Maggio and Betty Ann Kaspari. A plethora of her nieces and nephews will miss her as well. And, of course, she will be mourned by several of her dear friends in life.Helen was born on the east side of the city of Detroit, Michigan in the fall of 1930. The daughter of Frank and Elizabeth Di Maggio. As the daughter of a proud Sicilian merchant family, Helen was raised in the Catholic tradition. Later in life, her keen curiosity drove her to explore a variety of other religious traditions and cultures.Helen loved to cook, and her rich tomato sauce—used to smother spaghetti and a myriad of other pasta dishes—was a cherished favorite among family and friends. What’s more, her chunky, cinnamon applesauce achieved legendary status, especially among her children.One of Helen’s favorite passions was dancing. As a long-time dance instructor of the Arthur Murray Dance Studios, Helen excelled in many forms of dance, from the tango, to the waltz, to the cha cha. She loved to showcase her skill by performing for appreciative audiences with other seasoned dance partners. After a trip to the Hawaiian Islands, she fell in love with the islands’ beauty and its rich culture. Helen set about learning all she could about the islands’ dances and traditions and became one of the few teachers offering the Hawaiian dance discipline to her midwest city of Detroit.After receiving her associate’s degree, Helen rejoined the workforce as a real-estate agent in the greater Detroit area. She enjoyed helping people from all walks of life achieve their dreams of home ownership. Years later, Helen left her hometown of Detroit and traveled to New York City to work a short stint in the jewelry business. But her heart yearned for something new, which led Helen to research opportunities in the bed-and-breakfast industry. With a renewed spirit, Helen and her business partner—and one of those dear friends—located a gorgeous 18-acre estate in northern Georgia where the two of them bought and operated a bed-and-breakfast known as the Apple Orchard Country Inn for many years. Providing guests with home-cooked meals and a quiet magical place in which to relax gave Helen immense satisfaction.Finally, retiring from hospitality work, Helen moved to the greater Atlanta area where she lived out her remaining years with her daughter and her granddaughter and youngest son.Helen will be mourned privately by her family.Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.wagesfuneralhome.com. Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, A Family Company, 3705 Highway 78 West, Snellville, GA 30039 (770-979-3200) has been entrusted with the arrangements.Read Obituary