Helen Shepard

Helen A. Shepard

1911-2010 NORTH ADAMS Helen A. Sorel Cleary Shepard, 98, of 606 Union St., North Adams, died Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010, at the North Adams Commons.

Born in North Adams on March 21, 1911, daughter of Domina Sorel and Anna Lefebrve Sorel, she attended schools in North Adams. She was the co-owner and operator with her late husband, Thomas Cleary, of the Cleary Children's Shoe Store on Main St. in North Adams from 1948 to 1966. She was last employed at the Franklin St. Nursing Home in North Adams.

She was a devoted mother and grandmother and loved spending time with her grandchildren. She enjoyed gardening, canning, knitting and crocheting.

She was a member of the Jollee Circle Club and the LeCercle Francais Club. She was a longtime communicant of St. Francis of Assisi Church.

Her first husband, Thomas D. Cleary, died Nov. 19, 1964. Her second husband, Francis W. Shepard, died Apr. 10, 1995.

She leaves two sons, Thomas "Tim" Cleary of Castleton, Vt. and William D. Cleary of Dracut, Mass.; six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

She was predeceased by one sister, Corinne Paquette, and three brothers, Albert Sorel, Napoleon and Louis Sorel.

FUNERAL NOTICE: Funeral Services will take place Saturday at 8:45 a.m. at THE FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS, WEST CHAPELS, 521 West Main St., North Adams, MA followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church in North Adams. Burial will follow in Southview Cemetery. Calling Hours are Friday from 5-7 p.m.

Memorial donations are for the charity of the donor's choice through the funeral home.