Helen Eva (Perrault) Groden, 95 of Walpole died October 16 surrounded by her family.
Through the years, Helen had many roles: she was a graduate of Brockton High School and Boston City Hospital School of Nursing Class of 1941, a loving wife and mother of 15 children, and a nurse and then Unit Director at Wrentham Developmental Center. She combined her passion for the care of people with disabilities with her love of golf by founding an annual golf tournament to benefit the Friends of Wrentham State School. In all endeavors, she was respected, admired, and loved by many.
She was predeceased by her devoted husband of 43 years, Harold M Groden, MD, and her oldest son, Harold M. Groden, Jr.
She is survived by her children: Anne Wynne and her husband Thomas of Norwood; Claire Groden of Needham; Christopher Groden of Belfast, ME; Terence Groden and his wife Mary of Cambridge; Kevin Groden and Gayle Hamilton of Merrimac; Thomas Groden and his wife Sara of Walpole; Monica Rudolph and her husband George of Falmouth; Margaret (Meg) Groden of Randolph; Stephen Groden and Holly McNamara of Norwood; Eleanor Groden and her husband Frank Drummond of Winterport, ME; Maureen Groden and her husband John Lasek of Southampton; Brian Groden and his wife Maija of Warren, RI; Patricia Whitney and her husband Thomas of Hinesburg, VT; Joan Groden O’Connell of Hadley; Luke Groden and his wife Jacqueline of Walpole; Stephen Wood of Randolph.
She is also survived by her 37 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and many nieces and nephews.
Helen was born in Brockton, MA, the 4th of 13 children of Eli and Margaret (Donahue) Perrault. She is survived by two sisters: Jeanne Perrault, SMSM of Waltham, and Joan Carter of Boca Raton, FL; and two brothers: Robert Perrault and his wife Beverly of Brockton, and Eli Perrault and his wife Mary Ellen of Halifax. She is predeceased by eight of her siblings: Edmund Perrault, Demetria Benoit, Albert Perrault, Margaret Buguey, Marie Thomson, Patricia Duval, Virginia Perry and Henri Perrault.
Her funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, October 20 in St. Mary’s Church, 176 Washington Street, East Walpole at 10:00 a.m.
Internment will be at Knollwood Memorial Park, 321 High Street in Canton.
Visiting hours will be on Monday from 3-8 p.m. in the Ginley Funeral Home (www.ginleyfuneralhomes.com) 892 Main Street, Walpole.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mrs. Helen Groden’s name can be made to the Marist Missionary Sisters, 349 Grove Street, Waltham, MA 02453.