Helen R. Coolidge, 83, of Derry, NH passed away on Friday March 14, 2014. Helen was born on March 12, 1931 in Tewksbury, MA, the daughter of the late George and Veronica (Shajuta) Petraitis. A resident of Lawrence for most of her life, she had resided in Derry for the last 14 years. In her youth, Helen was an accomplished figure skater and an Olympic hopeful in the 1940’s. She was employed for many years as a shirt presser for Meadowbrook Laundry of Andover, MA and later for Sunshine & Daisy Cleaners of Salem, NH.
She is survived by her two sons, Michael Coolidge of Methuen, MA, Calvin Coolidge and his wife, Laloni of Derry, four daughters, Corrine Stevenson and her husband Jim of Armington, IL, Sandra Wieszcek and her husband Paul of Raymond, NH, Lorraine Coolidge of Littleton, NH, Paula Morrison and her husband Richard of Salem, 17 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Kenneth Coolidge in 1984 as well as her siblings, Joseph and Victor Petraitis, Anne Kurpiel and Mary Santomassimo.
Calling hours were held on Monday, March 17th from 5 to 7pm in the Peabody Funeral Homes & Crematorium, 15 Birch St, Derry. A Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated Tuesday at 10:00am at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Crystal Ave., Derry. Burial followed in the Elmwood Cemetery, Methuen, MA. Donations in her memory may be made to the Epilepsy Foundation, 8301 Professional Place, Suite 200, Landover, MD 20785, Attn: Donor Services.