Helen L Gingras

Helen L Gingras passed away on March 21, 2017 after a recent illness. Helen was born in Lowell, MA on May 25, 1940 to the late Helen Hayes and Oswald Hayes. Helen graduated from Chelmsford High School in 1957 and the Lowell General Hospital School of Nursing in 1960. Helen and her husband Gerry were married in 1962 in Chelmsford, MA. Before retiring they lived in Easthampton, NY; Storrs, CT; Concord, MA; Chelmsford, MA and Groton, MA. During this time Helen worked as a registered nurse - mostly in the intensive coronary care unit at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA. Helen was an active member in every community in which she lived. She served as an EMT in Groton for more than 20 years. Upon retiring to Sandwich, Helen volunteered for the town in several areas: the Conservation Commission, Friends of Mead Base, and as town trail steward. An expert hiker and wilderness lover, she frequented the peaks of the White Mountains, and her passion for the outdoors brought her to trails as far afield as Patagonia and the Himalayas. When off the trail, she was a generous chef, party planner, and hostess, treating guests to her legendary seafood chowder and ginger cookies as often as three or four times a week. Helen is survived by her husband of 54 years, Gerard; her three sons: David and his wife CJ of Commerce Township, MI and their children - Marly, Luke and Daniele; Peter and his wife Cherie of Shaker Heights, OH and their children - Amelia, Samuel and Alexander; Michael and his wife Kelly of Medford, MA and their daughter - Aoife; and her loyal hiking companion and canine friend, Ozzie. Helen is also survived by her sister Elizabeth Coleman of Ashburnham, MA; her brother James Hayes of Ossipee, NH; her brother John Hayes of Kennebunkport, ME; and her brother Dennis Hayes of Littleton, MA. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at 11AM at The Community Church of Sandwich, the Baptist Meeting house at 12 Church St, Center Sandwich, NH 03227. The family will host a gathering immediately following the service at The Corner House Inn, 22 Main St, Center Sandwich, NH 03227. Please make any memorial contributions to the Central New Hampshire VNA /Hospice, 780 North Main St, Laconia, NH, 03246 or online at: http://www.centralvna.org/html/helpchh.html.

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Helen L Gingras

May 25, 1940 - March 21, 2017