Helen Catherine Ferrell, 78, of California, Md., formerly of Johnstown, Pa., died Jan. 31, 2013, in Solomons.

She was born Sept. 7, 1934, in Johnstown, Pa., to the late Eleanor Poremsky Wilker and Sylvester James Wilker.

She was the beloved wife to Raymond Ferrell, whom she married March 26, 1976, in Clinton United Methodist Church, and he preceded her in death April 21, 2008. She graduated from Seton Hill College in Greensburg, Pa., in 1956. She went on to become a music teacher and day care teacher, moving to Camp Springs in 1979 and, eventually, to California, Md. In her spare time, she enjoyed quilting and cross stitching.

She is survived by her children, Lisa Neal of Dover, Del., and Mike Halterman and his wife, Anna, of Lusby; siblings, Jim Wilker of Pennsylvania, Kathy Wilker of New Jersey, Mary Lou Simpson of Lakewood, Col., and Carol Ann Sullivan of Manchester, N.H.; and three grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Solomons with the Rev. Michael Wilson officiating.

Interment will be held at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave., 7th floor, New York, NY 10001, or online at www.alzfdn.org.

Arrangements are being provided by Rausch Funeral Home in Lusby.