Helen Malloy

Helen Theresa (Raimer) Malloy, 86, died Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at Sweet Brook Care Center in Williamstown. Her death ended a ten-year progression and battle with Alzheimer's disease. Helen was born on January 10, 1924, one of four daughters and five sons of John P. and Elizabeth M. Burke Raimer. Helen attended schools in Savoy and Adams and graduated from Adams High School. She married Gordon Francis Malloy on February 23, 1946 following Gordon's discharge from the United States Army. Helen worked for years at the former Berkshire Fine Spinning in Adams and had three children, Helen, Gordon, and Jeanne. Gordon Jr. "Baby Gordie" passed away from pneumonia four days after his first birthday in 1951. Helen and Gordon moved from Adams to Westfield when Gordon began working on the construction of the Mass Pike. From there they moved on to Willimantic, Connecticut for work at Pratt and Whitney and later Bousa's Garage where Helen was a bookkeeper and worked in the parts room. In Connecticut, they made many friends and many happy family memories. Helen and Gordon returned to Adams in the early '70s where Helen worked at the former Waverly Fabrics and Adams Supermarket. Together, Helen and Gordon enjoyed camping with their children and friends, square dancing, and renovating several homes they owned through out their years. They also took pride in their vegetable and flower gardens, a past time that they spent tireless hours together planting, tending, and processing. Following Gordon's death in 1990, Helen made her home with daughter Jeanne and her family in Cheshire. As her Alzheimer's disease progressed, Helen attended the Adult Day Program at Fairview Commons in Great Barrington, then resided for a time at Sugar Hill Assisted Living in Dalton and for the past four years at Sweet Brook Care Center. While in Adams, she was a communicant of the former St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, and while in Cheshire, of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish. She was a member of Court Sancta Regina of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. Her daughter Helen T. Shay and her husband Michael of Stockbridge, Vermont and her daughter Jeanne M. Dean and her husband David of Cheshire, survive Helen. Helen leaves four grandchildren; Margaret Brown of Hancock, Vermont, Joshua Shay of Stockbridge, Vermont, Christopher Dean of Storrs, Connecticut, and Jonathan Dean of Cheshire. Helen is also survived by two sisters, Elizabeth Dupee of Adams, Dorothy Raimer of Cheshire and life-long friend and sister-in law, Millie Raimer of Pittsfield. Helen is pre-deceased by her parents John and Elizabeth Raimer, brothers John, Francis "Butch", Thomas "Chuck", Matthew "Mickey", Karl "Skip", sister Mary Raimer and son, Gordon Francis Malloy, Jr. The funeral will be held on Friday, January 29th, at 8:45 AM from the PACIOREK FUNERAL HOME, 13 Hoosac St. Adams, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM in St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Cheshire, celebrated by Rev. Geoffrey Deeker, CSS. Burial will follow in Bellevue Cemetery, Adams. Calling hours are today, Thursday, from 5 to 7 PM at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the Sweet Brook Resident's Activities Fund, or to the Alzheimer's Association, through the funeral home.

Helen Malloy

January 28, 2010