HELEN S. MACLAUGHLIN

MacLAUGHLIN, Helen S. Age 82, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, peacefully, January 31, 2026. Helen was a light to all who knew her. She will be remembered for her love of family, her dedication to helping others, and her unmatched generosity of spirit that warmed and welcomed everyone she met. Helen met her beloved husband, Lester S. MacLaughlin, of Everett, while in high school, and they were married for 62 years. Helen and Lester built a life together that included lots of children, laughter, chaos, adventure and always an abundance of love. With seven children of her own to raise, Helen's heart and home were always open to family, friends and anyone who needed a meal, a bed, someone to listen or a soft place to land. She was never happier than when her home was full of commotion and people she loved. Born in Everett, the daughter of Joseph P. and Marguerite (Lewis) Simard, she graduated from Girls Catholic High School as Valedictorian of her class. The first woman in her family to attend college, she earned her Bachelor's Degree and her Master's in Social Work from Emmanuel College and a Master's in Education from Cambridge College. Helen worked in Elder Care and was a Past President with the Everett Foundation for the Aged. Moving from Social Work to Education, Helen worked for many years as a teacher in the Everett Public Schools and as the Principal of the Whittier School in Everett, until she retired. She was dedicated to her students and always went above and beyond to help them learn and succeed, even spending her own time and money to create an after-school computer lab for students, who otherwise did not have access to technology. In retirement, Helen and Lester moved to their beloved cottage in Marblehead and enjoyed being a part of the Marblehead community, where Helen was member of the Marblehead Rotary Club. She cherished watching the sunset over Salem Harbor with Lester, Sunday family breakfast, and cheering on her grandchildren in hockey and all of their other endeavors. Helen was preceded in death by her brothers, Richard, Joseph and James Simard. Her memory will be treasured by her husband, Lester; her children, James MacLaughlin and his partner, Linda Cabeca, of Salem, Joseph MacLaughlin and his wife, Janet, of Sandown, NH, Helen (MacLaughlin) Enriquez and her husband, Mark, of Woolwich, ME, Philip MacLaughlin and his wife, Lynn, of Gloucester, Marguerite (MacLaughlin) Polos and her husband, Chris, of Santa Barbara, CA, Kathryn (MacLaughlin) Dedieu and her husband, Laurent, of Marblehead and Robie MacLaughlin and his wife, Meghan, of Gloucester. She also leaves brother, William Simard and his wife, Dorothy, of Saugus; grandchildren, Benjamin MacLaughlin and his wife, Liza, Nathaniel, Jesse, Julia, JJ, and Jack MacLaughlin, Henry Martin, Eloise (Martin) Hendrickson and her husband, John, Theodore, Robie and Matthew Polos, Ryan and Callie MacLaughlin; and great-grandchildren, Bo, Peter and Miles MacLaughlin. Visiting Hours: Monday, February 9, at Eustis & Cornell, from 8-10am. Funeral Mass at 10:30am, at Star of the Sea Church, Marblehead. In lieu of flowers, donations suggested to Doctors Without Borders, the Salvation Army or the Thomas E. Smith Foundation. Eustis & Cornell of Marblehead 142 Elm Street (781) 631-0076 eustisandcornellfuneralhome.com

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