Helen Trainor (Sawtell) Tustin, October 9,1922 - January 27, 2022, 99, of Bellingham, passed away peacefully on January 27, 2022 with her family by her side. Dear mother to Lorraine Donahue of Natick. Cherished grandmother of the late Leonard Lucien, Jr. and his wife Carolyn, Lori (Lucien) Imparato and her Husband, John and Suzanne Lucien. Loving great-grandmother to John, Angela, Kali, Shannon, Mark, Salem and Sean, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Helen was predeceased by George Tustin, her parents Frank and Ellen Sawtell, her siblings, Francis and Donald Sawtell and her beloved sister, Theresa Turner, with whom she went everywhere with.
Helen was born in East Cambridge in 1922 to Frank and Ellen Sawtell. She was a graduate of Cambridge High and Latin School.
As a child, Helen’s home was filled with laughter, music and prayer. Her father led an orchestra, played many instruments and music was playing at all hours, day and night in her home. Anyone that knew Helen has heard the stories of her father’s music, the candy store her family owned, and her childhood growing up at “466”. In the last years of her life, her childhood home was where her thoughts returned her frequently.
Helen married her childhood sweetheart, George Tustin and moved with him to South Carolina while he served in the Army. They moved back to Cambridge and raised their daughter, Lorraine. They later settled in Framingham where Helen was a longtime resident of Framingham and then Natick.
After Lorraine was born, Helen was a homemaker whose interests included, baking, crafts, music, cake decorating and family. She enjoyed playing the piano and even taught herself to “play by ear”. Helen was also a longtime member of the American Legion, Post 74 in Framingham.
Over the years, Helen worked at Corcoran’s Department Store, Jordan’s, Sears and the Fabric Place. But she took the most joy in doing overnight babysitting for families in the Framingham area. Many of which she kept in touch with for years after the children had grown.
Helen was a devout Catholic and loyal member of Sacred Heart Parish community in Cambridge as well as St George’s in Framingham.
Helen loved her family above all else. She was patient, loving and kind. She left an everlasting imprint in the hearts of those that she loved. Helen attended all of her grandchildren’s sporting events, concerts and activities and rarely missed an event. She made all holidays fun and exciting, and never forgot her camera. She and her sister never failed to stop everyone from leaving a family gathering to take a picture and “say cheese”.
Helen’s family would like to thank the staff at AgingWell Adult Day Health and Brookhaven Hospice for the love and kindness that they showed to her over the last year and a half.
In lieu of flowers, kindly make a donation in memory of Helen (Sawtell) Tustin to the Sacred Heart Church, 39 Sixth Street, Cambridge, MA 02141.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 2 from 8:00 am to 9:15 am at the Ginley Crowley Funeral Home (www.ginleyfuneralhomes.com) 3 Barber Street, Medway, MA followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am at St. Patrick’s Church, 44 East Central Street, Natick, MA, and burial to follow at St Patrick’s Cemetery in Natick.