Helena Bolster Marcotte

Helena Bolster Marcotte, Beloved Mother, Mimi, and Great-Grandmother

Helena Bolster Marcotte passed away on July 24, 2025, after 92 years filled with love, family, learning, and adventure.

She was born on August 26, 1932, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and raised by her parents, Anna (Dwyer) Bolster and Richard W. Bolster. Later in life, she became known as Helena Bolster Marcotte.

Helena eventually settled in Sharon, where she and her husband, Stephen Marcotte, raised their five children: Donna (Robert), Stephen (Karen), Richard (Donna), Gregory (Jill), and Bryan (Kathleen). As they raised their family, Helena became an active member of the Sharon community -volunteering to lead story hour at the public library, teaching yoga classes at the community center, and helping to found FAME, a parent organization dedicated to supporting music education in the Sharon Public Schools. Steve passed away several years ago, and Helena carried his memory with her always, often speaking fondly of his time at MIT, his career as an electrical engineer, and the many travels they shared together.

She was the proud "Mimi" to ten grandchildren- Bradley, Stacy, Sarah, Nicholas, Emma, Cameron, Cory, Max, Taylor and Sam-and great-grandmother to seven (and counting).

Helena inspired those around her with her love of travel, books, flowers, education, yoga, and her natural ease in making friends.

From her early career as a flight attendant to later years exploring the world with Steve and friends, she believed in making memories and staying curious. Her travels took her from Africa to Paris, the National Parks to Italy-and her passport was always at the ready.

A lifelong learner and educator, Helena worked with Head Start, and became a Montessori teacher after completing her training at Cornell University. Helena and Steve went on to purchase Small World, a Montessori school that reflected the hands-on, individualized education she believed in. The school later became a second home for her grandchildren, who were frequent "guest attendees."

She also had a lifelong love of flowers-gardening when she had a yard, filling her home with plants when she didn't, and spending hours arranging fresh bouquets in vases.

Helena's legacy lives on through the stories we tell, the places we go, and the love of family we carry forward. In keeping with her wishes, the family will hold a small celebration of life this fall

In her memory, plan a trip, read a good book, buy some beautiful flowers-and hold your loved ones a little closer.