Helen M. (Finnerty) Hennelly died peacefully at the Wayland Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on July 29. She was born in Cambridge on July 17, 1913, to Michael J. and Margaret (Spellman) Mahoney. She was their third child, having two older sisters, Mary, who died at nine months, and Margaret, with whom Helen had a close relationship throughout their lives.
The family moved to Waltham when Helen was a baby; her father died when she was fifteen months old. She and her sister later attended St. Charles School, and Helen graduated from Waltham High School in 1931. Her mother married Michael Mahoney and had four children, James (Buddy), Veronica (Ronnie), Paul, and Robert (Bobby).
During the Depression years, Helen worked at Parke Snows department store, did some modeling for Vogue, and then became head bookkeeper at Waltham Bag & Paper Company, having taken an accounting course through the Harvard Extension program. In her twenties she worked for Social Security, for a while in Washington, D.C., and eventually became a manager in Massachusetts, which was a rare position for a woman at that time.
After World War II, she married former St. Charles schoolmate, James C. Hennelly, on October 7, 1946. They moved to Newton and had two children, Jean and John. Once the children were in school, Helen gradually resumed her career, as an executive secretary, at a bank and several companies. When she retired, she had been executive secretary at the law office of Paul Rich in Newton.
Helen had a number of creative interests, taking up oil painting and crocheting in her sixties. She remained active into her eighties, regularly bowling in a league with friends.
Helen and Jim were married 40 years until Jim’s death in 1986. They were active members of Our Lady’s parish throughout that time. Their four grandchildren, Andrew and Julia Keith and Karen and Diane Hennelly, were born in the seven years before Jim’s death.
Helen will be remembered as a loving mother and grandmother, and a generous friend.
Funeral from the Eaton and Mackay Funeral Home, 465 Centre St NEWTON CORNER , on Thursday August 3rd at 9:30 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady Help of Christians Church at 10:30 AM. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Visiting hours on Wednesday from 5-8 PM. Interment at Calvary Cemetery in Waltham. If desired, donations in Helen’s name may be made to a charity of your choice.