HELEN L. DRINAN

DRINAN, Helen L. (nee Aucker) Of Newton, Massachusetts, died on September 8, 2021 at age 102. Her life was full of family, service, teaching, and politics. Born on November 2, 1918, in Clear Lake, Iowa, she was the daughter of Lewis Aucker and Hannah Nelson Aucker, and grew up living in both Clear Lake and Mason City, Iowa. She graduated from the University of Iowa and began her teaching career in Iowa high schools. During WWII she joined the Red Cross and was stationed in Charleston, SC, where she met her beloved Francis "Frank" Drinan. They rode the hospital trains together during the war, traveling across the country to bring the wounded back home, and were married in 1947. They moved to Boston, Frank's birthplace, and eventually settled in Newton Highlands in 1958, where Helen lived until her death. She taught at Weeks Junior High until she began to raise a family – one son and three daughters. Amidst the chaos of four rambunctious children, Helen continued her devotion to teaching – she was a Girl Scout leader and introduced Junior Great Books to many young readers. She was a member of adult Great Books for decades, as well as two other book clubs. Helen and Frank were members of Sacred Heart Parish in Newton Centre, and helped found the Catholic Interracial Council at the parish. Both were also involved with NCDF – the Newton Community Development Fund, an organization dedicated to building low-income housing in Newton. She organized a group of her friends to participate in a tutoring program at St. John's in Roxbury, and to work at the food bank at St. Francis De Salle. Helen was also involved with Newman House, and the Newton Prayer Breakfasts. Helen's brother-in-law, Robert "Bob" Drinan, S.J., ran for Congress in 1969, and Helen and Frank were immersed in Massachusetts politics. Helen was a member of the Newton Ward 6 committee for many years, worked on many aspects of Bob's campaigns, including a few legendary "Drinan garage sales" in her back yard when they were still a novelty, and became a well-known figure in local politics. After Frank died in 1977, Helen eventually went to work at Boston College Law School, where Bob Drinan had been Dean in the 1960s. Helen was a beloved member of the BC Law administrative staff for 30+ years, photographing all major events at the law school, and galvanizing the law school to participate in the annual Newton Hunger Walk. She served on the Newton Council on Aging, and also opened her home to many international and Boston College students for many years. Helen retired from BC Law School at the tender age of 92. She was forever sociable, always enjoyed good conversation, and maintained and nurtured many close friendships from all parts of her life. Helen leaves three daughters, Ann Drinan (Algis Kaupas) of Branford, CT, Betsy Drinan of Boston, and Suzy Drinan of Philadelphia; one granddaughter, Jaime Tirrell Hassey (Chad Hassey); and daughter-in-law, Diane Drinan (Doug Vannah). She was predeceased by her husband, Francis W. Drinan, M.D., her brother, Harold Aucker, her sister, Ruth Aucker, and her son, Thomas J. Drinan. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, September 13th, at 10:30 AM at Sacred Heart Church, 1317 Centre St., Newton Centre. Interment will be private. Visiting Hours are Sunday, September 12th, from 3-6 PM at Burke & Blackington Funeral Home,1479 Washington St., WEST NEWTON. Fully-vaccinated guests are welcome to attend; masks are required. For those unable to attend, an online guestbook is available to sign at BurkeFamilyFuneralHomes.com. The Drinan family acknowledges and greatly appreciates the loving care bestowed on Helen in her final years by Mary Depradine, Teo Velikov, and Suzy Drinan. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Thomas J. Drinan Fellowship at Suffolk Law School, bit.ly/sulsdrinan, or to the Greater Boston Food Bank, https://www.gbfb.org Burke & Blackington BurkeFamilyFuneralHomes.com

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