Helene H. Salois, 84, of North Smithfield, died Friday at Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island in Providence. She was the wife of the late Walter E. J. Salois who died in 1979.
Born in Paris, France she was a daughter of the late Gaston Quainon and Henriette H. Podevin. She was raised in Paris and went to work at an early age. She lived through the German occupation of France and was witness to the historic liberation of France by Allied Forces in 1944.
It was during WWII that Helene was courted by Walter Salois, an American soldier of French-Canadian ancestry from Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Following the war Walter and Helene were married and as a war bride Helene began her new life in Woonsocket.
Helene resided in Woonsocket from 1946 to 1956 when she moved with her family to California. They lived in California from 1956 until 1982 when they returned to the local area. Helene made her home in North Smithfield for the past 30 years.
Helene was employed at the former Finklesteins on Singleton Street in Woonsocket and later at Woonsocket Coat and then Needlecraft until her retirement. She was a communicant of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church and a member of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union.
Helene is survived by her son Rev. Philip G. Salois, MS (Missionaries of Our Lady of LaSalette, Chief of Chaplain Service of VA Boston Healthcare System and National Chaplain of Vietnam Veterans of America) of Newtonville, MA. She was the sister of the late Raymond and Maurice Quainon and is also survived by host of nieces and nephews in France.
Her Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday at 11:00 in Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church, 1409 Park Ave., Woonsocket. Helene will be buried with her husband at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside California. Visiting hours are Monday from 6-8 pm and Tuesday from 2-4 and 6-8 pm in the Menard-Lacouture Funeral Home, 127 Carrington Ave., Woonsocket. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the James Michael Ray Memorial Chapter #818 Vietnam Veterans of America, 333 Victory Hwy. North Smithfield, RI. 02896.
www.menardfuneralhome.com