Helen Rita Cerrotti Shair, 99, of Helen St., Hamden ,passed into eternal life on  Dec. 17, 2015, at her home, surrounded by her loved ones. She was the widow of Louis E. Shair. Born in New Haven, March 13, 1916, she was the daughter of Pasquale and Maria DiPace Cerrotti. She is survived by two daughters, Anne (Frank) Balzano of Hamden and Attorney Rita Shair of Madison, three grandchildren, James (Valerie) Petonito Jr. of Cheshire, Linda (Richard) Crouch of Hamden and Lisa Balzano of Bridgeport. The greatest loves of her life were her great-grandchildren, Holly and Heidi Petonito and Wesley (Little Boy Blue) and Jameson (Little Boy Brown) Crouch. She was the youngest of her family and was pre-deceased by her brothers, Anthony, Ralph and Vincent Cerrotti and her sisters, Margaret (Dominick) Matazzaro, Clara (Frank) Cretella and Catherine (Italo) Martino and a grandson, Frank N. Balzano Jr. Helen was a longtime communicant of St. Ann's Church and was a member of the St. Rita Rosary Society and for many years was a member and treasurer of the B.H.B. women's social group. Monday nights were always reserved as "club nights" for her. Helen was an avid UConn basketball fan and enjoyed attending the women's games in Storrs. She used to love to play basketball in School at Fair Haven Jr. High, but was unable to continue to high school. Instead, she went to work as a bookkeeper at Arthur Sigman Co. and Berger Bros. in New Haven until she started a family. She was very disappointed because she was not allowed to continue to high school, so, even though she was over sixty, she and her neighbor signed up for the adult education program in Hamden, earning her high school diploma in1977, the oldest but proudest member of the class. Friends are invited to go directly to a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Ann's Church, Tuesday at 11 o'clock, and may call at the Peter H. Torello & Son Funeral Home, 1022 Dixwell Ave., Hamden, Monday evening from 6 to 8 P.M. Interment in Beaverdale Memorial Park, Hamden. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Ann's Church, 980 Dixwell Ave., Hamden, Ct. 06514 or the Office of Radio & Television, 15 Peach Rd., Prospect, Ct. 06712