Helen Wills

Helen Wills , 89, of Peabody formerly of Lynnfield died Saturday, September 26 at Sunrise Gardner Park in Peabody.

Helen was born in Palmerton, PA on November 23, 1919 She was one of eight children born to her parents Kathryn and John Hishta who emigrated from the Ukraine to find a better life for their family.

Helen excelled at school work and graduated from high school at 16, having skipped a grade. Following high school she worked several years at Shindell's Appliance Store in Palmerton. At age 23, Helen went to Syracuse, N.Y., to help her older sister, Mary, during a difficult pregnancy. Mary was suffering from peritonitis and her husband, Russell, was fighting in World War II. While helping Mary with the birth of her baby, Peggy, Helen went to work for E Z Washer which at the time was a defense plant that manufactured firing pins for the Army. At E Z Washer, Helen quickly became known as a person who was very smart and thorough. She held several jobs but enjoyed most the inspection and quality control areas where she became a supervisor.

While in Syracuse, her supervisor, Norman's Uncle Robert Bye, at E Z Washer introduced her to Norman Wills . Norman was attending Syracuse University on the G.I. Bill where he earned both a Mechanical Engineering Degree and Masters in Business Administration. Norman and Helen married on February 25, 1949. Their first child, Charlotte, was born on December 3, 1949. The family moved from Syracuse to Boston where Norman joined the General Electric Company as a Mechanical Engineer. They bought their first home in Topsfield, Ma. in 1953 and their second child, Douglas, was born on February 4, 1956. They bought their second home in Lynnfield, Ma. In 1962 and lived there for 42 years.

In addition to raising two young children, Helen worked part time for the I.R.S. and Kelly Girl Temp Agency. In the late 1960's, she started a second career and went to work for the New England Life Insurance Company as Senior Support Analyst in Boston where she became a supervisor and retired in 1986. Helen was a devoted Mother to her two children and was known as a wonderful cook to her family and friends. Helen loved to cook and her love was expressed through her cooking. Norman often commented that after Helen prepared the first meal for him while they were dating, he knew he had found "his girl". Helen and Norman were married 56 years until Norman died in October 2005 due to complications from Alzheimer's disease.

Following Norman's death, Helen resided at the Sunrise Assisted Living Facility in Peabody until her death. Helen was faced with many challenges in her life beginning with Scarlet Fever as a child and ending with the loss of her vision due to macular degeneration several years ago. Despite her loss of vision, Helen remained upbeat and optimistic and never complained about any of the difficulties she had to face daily. Instead she felt blessed to have such wonderful and caring children, dedicated friends, and to have the support and love from her friends at Sunrise.

Helen is survived by two sisters, Tessie Rowlands and Stunie Hinkle, both of Palmerton, Pa., and by one brother, Charles Hishta of Roanoke. Va. She was preceded in death by her husband Norman Wills , sisters Anna, Mary, and Sophia and brother Andy. She is also survived by her two children Charlotte Helen Wills Brooks of Katy, Tx. and Douglas Wills of Malden, son in law Wendell Brooks of Katy, Texas, grandchildren Allison Brooks Heath of Katy, Tx., Steven Brooks of Albuquerque, N.M., 11 nieces and nephews, and beloved companion Barbara George of Newburyport, Ma.,

A memorial service to celebrate Helen's life will be held at 10 am, Saturday October 3 at the McDonald Funeral Home located at 19 Yale Avenue, Wakefield, MA. The telephone for McDonald is 781-245-3550. Following the service, the internment will be held at Puritan Lawn Memorial Park.

The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or to the Hospice of the North Shore, 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01925.


Read Helen Wills's Obituary and Guestbook on www.mcdonaldfs.com.

Service

McDonald Funeral Home
19 Yale Ave.
Wakefield , MA US 01880
Saturday, October 3, 2009, 10:00 AM

Cemetery

Puritan Lawn Memorial Park
185 Lake Street
Peabody , MA US 01960
Saturday, October 3, 2009, 11:30 AM