Helen Pliska

LUNENBURG -- Helen C. “Nellie” (O’Leary) Pliska, 95, of Lunenburg, died Saturday, Nov. 10, in her home with her family at her side after an illness.

She was born on Jan. 19, 1912, in Fitchburg, the daughter of John F. and Ellen (Collins) O’Leary and lived in Fitchburg until 1942 when she and her husband moved to Lunenburg. Helen attended school in Fitchburg and was a graduate of Fitchburg High School, Class of 1929. She then went on to attend The Leominster School of Nursing and was a registered nurse for more than 30 years.

She was a nurse at Leominster Hospital, General Electric and the industrial nurse for Independent Lock Co., retiring in 1966. She was active in the Friends of the Eagle House in Lunenburg, The Friendly Seniors of Lunenburg, and was a charter member of The Ladies Guild at Our Lady of The Lake Church in Leominster and was also a member of the church. She was one of the founding members of the church and was also a founding member at St. Boniface Church in Lunenburg.

She leaves her three daughters, Ellen Shannon in Sun City West, Ariz., Kathleen Pliska of Lunenburg, with whom she lived, Ann-Maureen Pliska in Rindge, N.H.; two grandchildren, Colleen Shannon in Phoenix, Ariz. and Terri-Ann Milligan of Glocester, R.I.; two great-grandchildren, Shannon F. and Owen P. Milligan, both of Glocester, R.I. She also leaves many nephews and nieces.

Her husband Chester J. Pliska, died in 1995. She was also predeceased by her brother, Daniel F. O’Leary, in 1973; and five sisters, Margaret Belair in 1990, Mary Chartrand in 1972, Anna O’Leary in 1994, Nora O’Leary in 1995 and Josephine O’Leary in 2005.

PLISKA -- The funeral will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 13, from the Lavery Chartrand & Alario Funeral Home, 99 Summer St., Fitchburg, with a Mass at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of the Lake Church, 1400 Main St., Leominster, with the interment to be in St. Bernard’s Cemetery, Fitchburg. A calling hour will be held on Monday morning at the funeral home from 8:45 until 9:45 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rescue Dept. c/o The Lunenburg Fire Dept., 7 School St., Lunenburg, MA 01462 or to the Friends of The Eagle House, Memorial Drive, Lunenburg, MA 01462.