Helen Mary (Murphy) Achenbach

Helen Mary (Murphy) Achenbach, the founder of Delaware’s iconic Helen’s Sausage House, age 92, of Wilmington, DE, passed away peacefully with her favorite Elvis music playing softly, and family surrounding her on Thursday, August 31, 2023. Born and raised in Wilmington, DE on June 10, 1931, she was a daughter of the late Layton T. Arterbridge, Sr. and Mary M. (Keller) Knox. Helen lived her whole life in Delaware, attending Bancroft School and eventually owning homes in both Smyrna and Pot-Nets Bayside. She also spent the majority of her life working in restaurants, both as a waitress and in sandwich shops from her teenage years up until she had the chance to buy the restaurant where she’d open Helen’s Sausage House in 1983. “The store” was her pride and joy, where she loved her customers and her customers loved her. Her family — and maybe Elvis — were the only things she loved more than the restaurant. She married twice…once in 1950 to Clifford J. Murphy Sr., and later in 1967 to Melvin “Mudge” Achenbach. She raised two loving children and adored her grandchildren, who remember sleepovers, practical jokes, and dancing. MomMom was always dancing. Other things she loved, in no particular order: her pony, Brandy; her many dogs; and the pigs and chickens she raised; being a part of the Holloway Terrace Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary for several years; hosting family holiday dinners; and eating crabs down at the beach. In addition to her parents, Helen was preceded in death by her stepfather, Raymond C. Knox; brother, Layton T. Arterbridge, Jr.; sister-in-law, Stella Arterbridge; sister, Joan Thomas; and husbands, Clifford J. Murphy Sr. and Melvin “Mudge” Achenbach. She is survived by her children, Diane Murphy Phillips (Wayne) and Clifford “Butch” Murphy, Jr. (JoAnne); grandchildren, Clifford J. Murphy III, Michael W. Phillips (Jessica), Amy Phillips Harty, Wayne Lockwood, and Kerri Hunter (Bruce); great-grandchildren, Jillian and Delaney Murphy, Richard Binkley III, Matthew Phillips, Anthony and Joseph Harty, and Zack and Nik Hunter; brother-in-law, Haven Thomas; niece, Kimberly Newsom (William); nephew, Richard Thomas; and longtime employees and family friends, Tina Jamison, Pat Taylor, and Pam Ford. The family would like to thank the staff, nurses and aides at The Residence of Chadds Ford memory care floor for the wonderful care of their mom over the last two years. They all loved “MomMom.” The family would also like to extend their thanks and appreciation to the doctors and nurses at Riddle Hospital for the outstanding care during her short time there. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10 am until 12 pm on Monday, September 11, 2023, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 1000 North DuPont Parkway, New Castle, DE, where a celebration of Helen’s life will begin at 12 pm. Interment will follow in Gracelawn Memorial Park, 2220 North DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE.

Helen Mary (Murphy) Achenbach

June 10, 1931 - August 31, 2023