Obituary of Joan Marie Helm

JOAN MARIE MULLEN HELM, 74 of Hernando, Florida, went home to be with her Lord on June 12, 2010 in Morrill surrounded by her family after a short battle with leukemia. Joan was born in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada to Rev. Stillman A. Mullen and Helen A. (Phillips) Mullen on August 24, 1935. She is one of seven children born to the Mullen Family. Her parents and her sisters pre-deceased her in death, Dorothy Mullen, Annie L. Atwater and Helen Marguerite Rice. Her three brothers survive her, Wendell LP. Mullen of Greenville, South Caroline, Waldo K. Mullen of Centerville, Georgia and Wayne P. Mullen of Des Moines, Iowa. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Harvey E. Helm and their five children, Eric R. Helm and his wife Sharon and their four sons, Matthew, Jonathan, Timothy and Peter of Southport, Connecticut; Denise M. Martin and husband Christopher and their three daughters, Stephanie, Lauren and Kristen of Morrill, Maine, Donna E. Hultz and husband Brian and their three children, Kyle, Kurtis, and Kelsey of Birdsboro, Pennsylvania; Pamela J. Helm of Milford, Connecticut and Emil R. Helm of Guatamela City, Guatemala. Joan grew up in Crystal, Ludlowe, Perham, Blaine and Bryant Pond, Maine. She moved to the Hartford, Connecticut area in high school. She attended Eastern Nazarene College for 1 ½ years. She worked as head teller at Society of Savings, Mechanic Savings Bank, and Peoples Savings Bank. Harvey and Joan raised their five children in Fairfield, Connecticut and then retired to Hernando, Florida in 1994. They were long-time members of Black Rock Congregational Church in Fairfield, CT for over 31 years. Joan and Harvey spent 2 ½ years of their retirement working as missionaries with Mission to the World in Manila, Philippines where they ministered to street children. There they ‘adopted’ their housekeeper Lena, as another daughter as well as 75 street children who knew her as Lola Joan (Grandma Joan). Joan’s life song is “Make me a Blessing” and she truly fulfilled this by caring for so many family members and friends. She loved to serve her Lord and others. Her favorite Bible verse was Isaiah 40:41. Many thanks to Joan’s wonderful friends and family who helped in her last days and all the wonderful medical staff who cared for her in Maine and Florida. A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 16th at Lone Elm Farm, 94 Rowe Hill Road, Morrill, Maine and on August 14th at Black Rock Congregational Church in Fairfield, CT. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to One Challenge, PO Box 36900, Colorado Springs, CO 80936, Account No. 110250, Emil Helm, telephone 800-676-7837; www.onechallenge.org. Arrangements under the care of Crabiel-Riposta Funeral Home, 182 Waldo Avenue, Belfast. On-line condolences may be offered at www.ripostafh.com.