Helen Nugent

Helen Nugent, 98, of Lynnfield died peacefully Wednesday, March 5, surrounded by her family.

Born in Boston on July 19, 1926, she was the daughter of Michael and Catherine Harrington of Glengarriff, County Cork, Ireland.

Helen grew up in Arlington and was a longtime resident of Lynnfield. She loved spending time with her family and friends, attending her grandchildren’s sporting events, spending summers in Hampton Beach, and bowling into her 90’s, but her favorite hobby was shopping. She enjoyed traveling well into her 80’s and toured extensively through North America and Europe and sailed on several trans-Atlantic and Caribbean cruises. She was a voracious reader and became quite adept at searching the internet for news and current events as well as keeping in touch with friends and family through email.

Married for fifty-one years to the love of her life, Leo (d. 2001), Helen was the loving mother of four children: James Nugent of Boston, Patricia Hulse and husband Alyn of Herndon, VA, Thomas Nugent, MD of Winchester, KY, and Lianne Higgins and husband Robert of Hampton, NH. She was predeceased by her siblings, Mary Rudder, John Harrington, Catherine Hallinan, and Rev. James Harrington. She is survived by her sister Ann Kelley of Ft. Meyers, FL.

She was “Nana” to 10 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren: Matthew (Sarah), Michael (Annie), Rosalyn, Halle (Justin), Shelby, Renzo, Trevor, Daniel (Amanda), Timothy (Julie), Kevin (Anastasia) and great-grandchildren: Mackenzie, Harrison and Ellie. She was also “Aunt” to many nieces and nephews.

Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Thursday, March 13, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 758 Salem St., Lynnfield on Friday, March 14, at 12:30 p.m. Burial will be private.