Helen Munroe

Helen May (Elo) Munroe, age 88, of Lynnfield passed away peacefully on Sunday October 30, 2022 at the Atrium Dementia facility in Danvers ma where she resided this past year.
Born in Melrose, Ma on January 26, 1934, to Waino and Selma Elo, who immigrated to this country from Finland. She was the youngest of 3 daughters and was a graduate of Melrose High School. Shortly thereafter she met and married her husband of 69 years George I. Munroe Jr. Their first child, Michael was born in 1954 and in 1955 her husband was deployed to Butzbach, Germany during that time she returned to live with her parents. In July of 1956 she boarded the ocean liner the Stockholm to head for Europe with her infant son. She and Michael were among the fortunate who survived the Andrea Doria and Stockholm crash at sea, taking lifeboats back to New York harbor. After her husband returned from Germany, they went on the move several times in the following years. They lived in Pittsfield Massachusetts, Schenectady, New York, Bloomington, Illinois and Louisville, Kentucky. During that time, they went on to have 2 more sons, unfortunately baby George died in infancy. In 1960 they returned to Massachusetts settling in Lynnfield and growing their family by 3 more children. Helen was the quintessential homemaker and mother to 5 children. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting and crewel embroidery. As her family got older, she took classes at the Essex Agricultural school on cake decorating and on how to make stenciled lampshades, some of her many interests. She loved antiques and especially Shaker furniture, frequenting the Brimfield Antique market. She and George were also very involved in the Massachusetts association for the Deaf for many years, as their youngest child had Congenital Rubella Syndrome. After her children were grown, she worked with at the Lynnfield Pioneer shoppe downtown and enjoyed being the face of that store for many years. Helen was a devoted Bruins fan, Derek Sanderson, being her favorite player in those days. She was a faithful member of Our Lady of Assumption church in Lynnfield where she often attended daily mass. Helen served as Chairperson of the Geranium Festival in Lynnfield for many years. She was active in the Finlandia Foundation in Massachusetts, attending functions and fairs, as she was very proud of her Finnish heritage. She was also a tireless volunteer at the Lynnfield Senior Center where she had many friends. Helen also enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren at their home of 29 years on Merrymeeting Lake in New Durham, NH. She loved her nine grandchildren and enjoyed attending their sporting events, birthday parties, recitals and graduations.
Helen was predeceased by her son Michael (1990) and infant son George and sister Elsie Baldi. She is survived by her husband George and sister Ethel Kujanpaa of Connecticut.
She is also survived by her son Thomas Munroe and wife Mary of Englewood Florida, daughters Karen Lowrie and her husband Doug of South Hamilton, Mass. and Susan D'Alelio and her husband Angelo of North Reading, Mass. and son Christopher Munroe of Lynnfield. She was also loving grandmother to Steven Munroe (and Cailie) and Scott Munroe, Joseph D'Alelio (and Stephanie), Brian D'Alelio and Kara LeBlanc (and Brandon) and Gina D'Alelio, and to her youngest grandchildren Peter, Amanda and Melissa Lowrie. She was great grandmother to Sophia and Joseph D'Alelio and Nico LeBlanc.
A mass will be held at Our Lady of Assumption church in Lynnfield Mass followed by a graveside burial at Puritan Lawn Cemetery in Peabody, services will be private. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in her name to the charities she supported: MADD and Massachusetts Association for the Deaf.