Helen C. McGovern passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 17 in Westfield MA, one day after her 100th birthday. Helen was born in Springfield, MA on February 16, 1919 to Nora and Patrick Cahillane. Helen grew up in Springfield Massachusetts.
She attended Our Lady of Hope School and then went on to graduate from Commerce High School. After graduation she worked in the business office of the Westfield State Sanatorium and then went on to work at the Springfield Armory. Helen married Joseph Francis McGovern on June 24, 1944 at Our Lady of Hope Church.
Helen and Joe moved to Westfield, Massachusetts in 1953. Shortly thereafter they founded Notion Thread Manufacturing Company, Inc. located in West Springfield, MA. While her husband managed the manufacturing process, Helen brought her business and secretarial skills to the company serving as the company’s business manager until 1983, when the company was sold after 30 prosperous years.
In addition to living a very busy life as co-owner of Notion Thread, Helen also devoted herself to raising her four children. As was true of her nature, after the sudden death of her sister Mary, Helen willingly welcomed Mary’s infant son Paul into her home and helped raise him during his youngest years. In their retirement years, Helen and Joe enjoyed traveling to Ireland and Hawaii.
They also spent winters in Florida and summers on Cape Cod. After Joe’s death in 2001, Helen moved into the American Inn in Southwick, MA where she continued to enjoy her senior years. She moved to Armbrook Village in Westfield MA in 2018.
Helen was devoted first and foremost to her family as well as her work and her faith. Despite all she had to accomplish each day in her very busy life, she never complained. Even in her final months when she had to look to others for her care, she never complained.
Rather, she was more concerned about inconveniencing others. Helen is predeceased by her husband Joseph Francis McGovern Sr., her sisters Mary Dillon and Johanna Fitzgerald, and her daughter-in-law Kathleen (Jeske) McGovern. Helen leaves her sister Noreen Blair, her son Joseph F McGovern, Jr. and his wife Janice, her son Robert P. McGovern, her daughter Mary Ellen Walachy and her husband Michael and her son Hubert T. McGovern and his wife Patricia.
She leaves her 12 grandchildren, Julie, Jenny, Jill, Erin, Kevin, Brian, Katherine, Sarah, Megan, Matthew, Anne and Joseph. She also leaves 11 great grandchildren, with her twelfth due in April. The funeral for Helen will be held on Friday, February 22 at 9:30 am from the Firtion-Adams Funeral Service, 76 Broad Street, Westfield followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:30 am in St. Mary’s Church.
Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Calling hours will be held at the funeral home on Thursday from 4-7 pm. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the American Cancer Society, 59 Babola Road #2, Holyoke, MA 01040 or the Parkinson Disease Association, Wang Ambulatory Center, 15 Parkman Street, Boston, MA 02114.
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