Helen C. (Campbell) Wilkins
Helen C. (Campbell) Wilkins, 93,
formerly of Caroline Avenue, Ipswich, and wife of the late John M.
Wilkins, died Monday, January 2, 2012 in the Kaplan Family Hospice
House, Danvers, following her long illness.
Born in Ipswich July 22, 1918,
daughter of the late Alex C. and Helen (Porteous) Campbell, she was
raised in Ipswich and was a member of the last graduating class
from the Manning High School in 1936. Helen went on to attend
Burdett College in Lynn, training as a secretary. Before WWII she
was employed as a secretary at the Ipswich Chronicle and during the
years of the war she worked as a secretary in the accounting
department at the former Robinson’s Shipyard in Ipswich where she
met her husband. Married in 1945 at the United Methodist Church in
Ipswich, the Wilkins soon built and made their home on Essex Avenue
in West Gloucester. For ten years she was employed as a secretary at
the Trinity Congregational Church in Gloucester, later working at
the Gloucester National Bank. Following the death of her husband and
her move to Central Street in Ipswich, she worked at the First
National Bank in Ipswich from which she retired in 1983.
Helen was an accomplished
seamstress, having made clothes for many family members including
the wedding dresses for her nieces Patti and Debby.
In retirement she enjoyed her
travels with friends to much of Europe and Hawaii. She was a
longtime member of the United Methodist Church of Ipswich.
She is survived by many nephews and
nieces including Patti Comeau-Simonson and her husband Rick of
Ipswich, Michael Girard and his wife Virginia Rudis of Kensington,
NH, Deborah Wile-Taves and her husband Butch of Ipswich and John
Girard of Essex.
She is also survived by Marc Comeau
and Matthew Comeau both of Ipswich, Sara K. Girard of Kensington,
NH, Meghan Brennan of Ipswich, Callie Wile of White Plains, NY, Seth
Wile of Portsmouth, NH and Anni J. Girard of Ipswich all who knew
her affectionately as “Nanny.”
She was the sister of the late
Ralph and Walter Campbell both formerly of Ipswich, Emery Dukett
formerly of Ipswich, Marshall Dukett formerly of Jacksonville, FL,
Lela Kelly formerly of Manchester, NH and Jessie Girard formerly of
Ipswich.
Her funeral service will be held
Saturday 10 am in the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home, 6 High Street,
Ipswich followed by interment in the New Highland Cemetery, Ipswich.
Family and friends are respectfully welcomed, and at Helen’s request
are encouraged to wear brightly colored clothes. Visiting hours are
Friday 4 to 7 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her
name may be made to the Hospice of the North Shore & Greater Boston,
75 Sylvan St # B102 Danvers, MA
01923-2764.
