Helene M. (Rousseau) Laurin, age 95, died Monday, July 14th, 2008 in Chelmsford following a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Mathias R. Laurin who died in 1970.
She was born in Lowell, September 23, 1912, the daughter of the late Romuald J. and Georgianna (Levasseur) Rousseau. Helene attended St. Joseph's Elementary School and graduated from Lowell High School. She resided in Chelmsford and was formerly a longtime resident of the Pawtucketville section of Lowell for many years. She was a communicant of the former St. Jean Baptiste and Ste Jeanne d'Arc Parishes in Lowell before their closings.
Helene and her husband, Mathias R. "Babe" Laurin, were the proprietors the M. R. Laurin Funeral Home of Lowell which was established in 1930.
Helene was a member of St. Anthony's Bread Fund of the Franciscans Missions, St. Jude Shrine, St. Jude's Children Hospital Research fund and also of the New England Medical Center Research fund of Boston.
In her earlier years she enjoyed crocheting and knitting many items for her family. She also enjoyed trips to Maine and weekly bingo at the former Ste. Jeanne D'arc Parish in Lowell.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Georgette A. and Walter Hippauf of Nashua, NH; a son and daughter-in-law, M. Richard and Sheila F. Laurin of Pelham, NH; nine grandchildren, Frank V. Mann Jr and wife Kathryn of Merrimack, NH, Richard M. Mann of Enfield, NH, Helene Bouchard and husband Louis of Santa Cruz, CA, Jacqueline Richards of Sammamish, Washington, Michelle A. Laurin-Cox and husband Jeffrey of Hudson, NH, Denise G. Speechley and husband George of Barrington, NH, M. Richard "Scott" Laurin, Jr. and wife Darlene of Lowell, Chris R. Laurin and wife Stephanie of Nashua, NH and Matthew R. Laurin and fiance Amy Annis of Lowell; her former daughter-in-law Sheila D. Laurin of Tyngsboro; 17 great grandchildren; 2 great great grandchildren; also nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Aurore Sigman, Joseph E. Rousseau, Edmond Rousseau, Jean Rousseau and Ernest Rousseau.
It being her wishes, Funeral Services were held privately on Thursday, July 17th at the Holy Family Parish - Ste. Marie's Church, S. Lowell followed by interment in St. Joseph Cemetery, E. Chelmsford. Those who wish may make contributions in Helene's memory to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.