Helen W. Braithwaite, beloved wife for 55 years of John J. Braithwaite, died October 11, 2012 after a 6 month illness. She was born in Brockton on September 26, 1933, daughter of Mitchell and Stacia (Szostakowski) Wolski. Graduating from Bridgewater High School in 1951, she went on to earn a teaching degree at Bridgewater State College (1955), and a master’s degree at Boston College.
Helen married the love of her life, Jack Braithwaite, on June 29, 1957. Her greatest legacy was her eight children and 14 grandchildren. Her incredible inner strength helped her endure many things in her lifetime. She always insisted that raising eight children was easy and was very proud of all their accomplishments. Helen took great pride in making sure her children always had opportunities in this world: Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, softball coach, high school athletics, and travel. A huge accomplishment was getting the Marshfield Boys Baseball League to allow girls to play.
When her youngest child entered school, Helen returned to her career as an English teacher. With technology changes, she returned to college to learn about computers. With this knowledge, she became one of the first high school computer teachers at Marshfield High School. When her former students acknowledged her, and she didn’t remember their name, she would always say “You must have been a good student – I only remember the bad ones”.
In the early ‘90s, she became an avid cyclist, competing in the Massachusetts and national Senior Olympics. She held the championship in her age group for 10 years in the Massachusetts Senior Games. Her competitive spirit qualified her for the national Senior Olympics in Texas, Arizona, Florida, and Louisiana where she was successful in not only completing her events but also bringing home many medals. In her early retirement years, she cycled across the United States (Marshfield, MA to Marshfield [Coos Bay], OR), Canada, the length of the Mississippi River, and the 100th Meridian in the US. She enjoyed riding with the Bay Area Senior Cyclists. Of significance, she rode her bicycle in all 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts.
Devoted to her faith, Helen was a communicant and CCD teacher (Second grade, First Communion class) at St. Christine’s Church.
Helen’s favorite times were with her family. She loved the holidays, especially Christmas when all her children could get together to celebrate. Her loves were her children, grandchildren, cycling, reading and using maps.
She is survived by her husband, Jack, and her children: John, Lowell, MA; Ken (Nancy), Marshfield, MA; Colin (Beth), Franklin, TN; Amy (Skip) Molitor, Walla Walla, WA; Maura (Mike) Carroll, Etters, PA; Regan (Mark) Cromwell, San Antonio, TX; Graeme, Fridley, MN; and Erin (Tim) White, Weymouth, MA. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren – Dasha, Andy, Shannon, Kelsey, Meredith, Denali, Kiana, Ashley, Brittany, Courtney, Hayden, Connor, Cameron, and Corey. In addition, she is survived by many nieces, nephews, an incredible extended family, and friends. Helen (Mom, Babcha), we love you.
Visiting hours will be held at the MacDonald Funeral Home 1755 Ocean St (Rte 139) Marshfield, on Sunday, October 14, from 2-6 PM. A memorial Mass for Helen will be celebrated in St. Christine’s Church, 1295 Main St., Marshfield, Monday, October 15, at 10 AM. Relatives and friends are invited to attend.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the St. Christine’s Religious Education Program, 1295 Main Street, Marshfield, MA; The Brain Aneurysm Foundation, 269 Hanover St., Building 3, Hanover, MA 02339; or the New England Sinai Hospital, 150 York St., Stoughton, MA 02072.