Helen M. (Rodziewicz) Sunderland, age 90 of Methuen passed away on Thursday, December 11, 2014 surrounded by her loving family at the Holy Family Hospital. Helen was born on November 18, 1924 in Dracut to the late Peter and Sophie Rodziewicz. She was a long time communicant of St. Monica's Parish of Methuen. Helen enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles and going out for meals and attending family get-togethers. Her greatest hobby was crocheting and she will be fondly remembered for her generous homemade afghans. In the summers she enjoyed spending time at her cottage at Province Lake in East Wakefield, NH. She will forever be remembered for her kindness, her unyielding ability to listen, wonderful sense of humor and great love and loyalty to her family.
Helen was the loving wife of the late John J. Sunderland Sr. who predeceased her in 1977. She was the devoted mother of John J. Sunderland Jr. and his wife Pauline of Derry, NH, Candace Paine and her fiancé Robert Lafontaine of Kingston, NH and Deborah Arcand and her husband Edmond of Lawrence. She was the cherished grandmother of Christine Parsons, Sheryl Hastings, Kara Paine, Michael John Paine, Rebecca Hertrich and her husband Christopher, Robert Higginbottom Jr. and his wife Marvelin, Holly Higginbottom, and Timothy Higginbottom. Helen is survived by her dear brother Michael Rodziewicz of Dracut. She was predeceased by the following brothers and sisters: Sophie Milewski, Evelyn Nolin, Delores Beaulieu, Stella Rodziewicz, Manya Rodziewicz, Peter Rodziewicz, William Rodziewicz, Joseph Rodziewicz and Stanley Rodziewicz. She is also survived by her two special great granddaughters, Haylie and Jenna Hertrich with whom she had a very close and loving relationship and many nieces and nephews.
Friends and guests are invited to call on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, 233 Lawrence St. Methuen. A mass of Christian Burial will take place on Thursday, December 18, 2014 at 11:00 AM at St. Monica's Parish of Methuen. Interment to follow at St. Patrick's Cemetery of Lowell. For directions and online guestbook, please visit the funeral home website, www.pollardfuneralhome.com. The Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home is honored to serve the Sunderland Family.