Helen M. (Rooney) MacCallum, 85, of Methuen, formerly of Malden, died unexpectedly Friday, November 9, 2012 in Tufts Medical Center, Boston.
Helen, daughter of the late James P. and Mary J. (Tomlinson) Rooney, was born in Lawrence on November 27, 1926. Her husband, Lorne MacCallum passed away in 1986. Helen was a nurse starting out at the Burke Hosiptal, then at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and retired after working in the Chem Lab for many years. Even after her retirement, Helen continued to provide nursing care at Magoun Manor in Medford and at the Malden Senior Care Center, working until moving to Methuen last year.
As the nurses taking care of her said during her last moments; she is a role model for all of us nurses, maintaining her nursing license and continuing to provide medial care to those in need up until the last year of her life.
Helen was communicant of St. Monica’s Church in Methuen and a former communicant of Immaculate Conception Church in Malden. She was a member of the Red Hat Society, enjoyed driving by the beach and going to breakfast on Sunday mornings.She was a member of the St. Monica's Lady Sodality, St. Claire's organization, a former avid bowler with many trophies, and loved to play cards with friends on Friday nights. She was proud to have lived independently until the time of her death and was so especially proud of her grandchildren.
She will be deeply missed by her son, Barry Camrell and his partner Amanda Schoff of Newburyport; two sisters, Margaret Dawson of Methuen and Olive Arroyo and her husband John of Sugarland, Texas; three grandchildren, Candice M. Camrell and Elisa K. Camrell, both of Peabody and Kaiden R. Camrell of Newburyport and several nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by two brothers, Joseph Rooney and Francis Rooney.
Helen’s life will be celebrated and lovingly remembered in a Mass of Christian Burial at Immaculate Conception Church, 600 Pleasant St., Malden on Thursday, November 15, 2012 at 9 AM. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. Friends and family will be warmly received in the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, 233 Lawrence St., Methuen from 4-8 PM on Wednesday. For directions or to share a condolence with the family, please visit www.pollardfuneralhome.com. Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, Methuen is honored to assist the MacCallum/ Camrell family with arrangements.